LIST OF COMMON INORGANIC & ORGANIC REAGENTS
Reagents are substances or compounds that are added to a system in order to bring about a chemical
reaction or are added to see if a reaction occurs.
Name General Description
Acetic acid an organic acid; is one of the simplest carboxylic acids
Acetone an organic compound; simplest example of the ketones
Acetylene a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne; widely used as a fuel and
chemical building block
Ammonia inorganic; the precursor to most nitrogen-containing compounds; used
to make fertilizer
Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) organic compound; similar solvent properties to acetone but has a
significantly slower evaporation rate
Carbon disulfide a non-polar solvent; used frequently as a building block in organic
chemistry
Chloroform organic compound; a precursor to teflon
Chromic acid a strong and corrosive oxidising agent; an intermediate in chromium
plating
Collins reagent used to selectively oxidize primary alcohols to an aldehyde
Copper(I) iodide useful in a variety of applications ranging from organic synthesis
to cloud seeding
Diethyl ether organic compound; a common laboratory solvent
Dimethyl ether the simplest ether; a useful precursor to other organic compounds and
an aerosol propellant
Dioxane a heterocyclic organic compound; classified as an ether
Ethanol a powerful psychoactive drug; used in alcoholic beverages, in
thermometers, as a solvent, and as a fuel
Fehling"s reagent used to differentiate between water-soluble aldehyde and ketone
functional groups
Fenton"s reagent a solution of hydrogen peroxide and an iron catalyst that is used
to oxidize contaminants or waste waters
Formaldehyde the simplest aldehyde; an important precursor to many other chemical
compounds, such as polymers and polyfunctional alcohols
Formic acid the simplest carboxylic acid; often used as a source of the hydride ion
Grignard reagents the most common application is for alkylation of aldehydes and
ketones:
Hydrochloric acid a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses
Hydrofluoric acid valued source of fluorine, precursor to numerous pharmaceuticals;
highly corrosive
Hydrogen peroxide an oxidizer commonly used as a bleach
Lime used in Flue Gas Desulphurisation in Power Plants
Limestone used in Flue Gas Desulphurisation in Power Plants
Manganese dioxide used as a pigment and as a precursor to other manganese compounds;
used as a reagent in organic synthesis for the oxidation
of allylic alcohols
Millon"s reagent an analytical reagent used to detect the presence of soluble proteins
Nitric acid highly corrosive and toxic strong acid; used for the production of
fertilizers, production of explosives, and as a component ofaqua regia
Phosphoric acid a mineral acid with many industrial uses; commonly used in the
laboratory preparation of hydrogen halides
Phosphoryl chloride used to make phosphate esters such as tricresyl phosphate
Potassium hydroxide a strong base; precursor to most soft and liquid soaps as well as
numerous potassium-containing chemicals
Silver oxide used to prepare other silver compounds; in organic chemistry, used as
a mild oxidizing agent
Silver nitrate precursor to many other silver compounds; commonly used in
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