Final answer:
In the reaction C₂H₆O₂ → C₂H₄O₂ + H₂, C₂H₆O₂ is a reactant. The compounds formed from this reactant are C₂H₄O₂ and H₂, which are the products. This fundamental understanding aids in stoichiometry and chemical equation balancing.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the reaction C₂H₆O₂ → C₂H₄O₂ + H₂, the compound C₂H₆O₂ is a reactant. It is the substance that undergoes a chemical change to form new substances, namely C₂H₄O₂ and H₂. The other terms, product, catalyst, and inhibitor, describe different roles in a chemical reaction. Products are substances formed from the reactants, a catalyst speeds up a reaction without being consumed, and an inhibitor slows down a reaction.
A reactant is what gets consumed or used up during the chemical reaction to create the product, and the product is what gets formed as a result of the reaction. In this case, C₂H₆O₂ is the compound that is transformed into different chemical entities, confirming its role as the reactant. Knowing the difference between these terms is essential for understanding stoichiometry and balancing chemical equations effectively.