What is the term for a substance produced in a chemical reaction?

Study for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Biology Exit Exam. Use flashcards and tackle multiple-choice questions with detailed hints and explanations. Prepare to excel in your exam!

The term for a substance produced in a chemical reaction is "product." In the context of a chemical reaction, reactants are the starting materials that undergo transformation, while products are the substances formed as a result of that transformation.

For example, in a simple chemical reaction like the synthesis of water from hydrogen and oxygen, the hydrogen and oxygen are the reactants, and the water created is the product. This distinction is fundamental in chemistry and essential for understanding how chemical reactions work. Each reaction starts with specific reactants, and upon completion, these reactants are converted into products, which may have different properties compared to the initial substances.

In contrast, a solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute, forming a solution, and a catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. These terms refer to different roles that substances can play in chemical processes, but they do not define the outcome of the reaction itself as clearly as "product" does.

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