Final answer:
The reactants are substances that initiate a chemical reaction. For instance, in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen gas, hydrogen peroxide is the reactant, and catalase acts as a catalyst. Different reactions will have different reactants, such as hydrogen fluoride and potassium carbonate reacting to form potassium fluoride, water, and carbon dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the reactants involved in a chemical reaction. In a reaction, the reactants are substances that start the reaction and are typically found on the left side of a chemical equation. For example, in the reaction where hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decomposes, the reactant is hydrogen peroxide itself. When catalase is present, it speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water (H₂O) and oxygen gas (O₂), as shown in the following chemical equation:
2H₂O₂ → (catalase) → 2H₂O + O₂
Therefore, hydrogen peroxide is the reactant in this reaction. Now, if we consider a different reaction, for instance, the reaction between hydrogen fluoride and potassium carbonate, the products would be potassium fluoride, water, and carbon dioxide as the resulting substances after the reaction has taken place:
2HF + K₂CO₃ → 2KF + H₂O + CO₂
In another context, such as antimicrobial activity, compounds obtained from different sources like soil might have been investigated, and in the case of chemical disinfectants, their effectiveness might be compared to that of substances like phenol or ethyl alcohol.