Reactants vs. Products: Key Differences Explained
Reactants are the starting materials that enter a chemical reaction; Products are the new substances formed when that reaction completes.
People confuse them because both appear in chemical equations, but the arrow always points away from Reactants and toward Products—think of it like raw ingredients (reactants) becoming dinner (products).
Key Differences
Reactants sit on the left side of the arrow and get consumed; Products sit on the right and are generated. Energy is either absorbed from or released into the surroundings as reactants rearrange into products.
Examples and Daily Life
Baking: flour + egg + sugar (reactants) turn into cake (product). Charging a phone: electricity + battery chemicals (reactants) produce stored energy (product).
Can a product become a reactant later?
Yes, in multi-step reactions a product can immediately act as the reactant for the next stage.
Are catalysts reactants?
No, catalysts speed the reaction but are not consumed, so they never appear as products.