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How to Find Reagent Equations

Reagents are chemicals or compounds used by scientists in particular reactions. They can be simple, like water, or complex proteins, like DNA. For most everyday processes, wherein the temperature and pressure are constant, at least one reagent is a liquid or is dissolved in a liquid such as water. The other reagent is then either a liquid, solid or gas. Mixing these two chemicals can cause them to break existing connections with atoms and rearrange their bonds to form new compounds. Finding the correct reagent equation is not difficult but does require some investment of time for researching.

Instructions

- 1
  Calculate the type of desired product from the reagents, taking note to include the reagents' physical state. If they are two solids, dissolve one into a liquid first. A rule of thumb in chemistry holds that water is the universal solvent, so it will dissolve a great variety of reagents.
  
  For example, to make carbon dioxide gas, two safe and common reagents would be baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate --- a solid) and vinegar (acetic acid --- liquid).
- 2
  
  Many reagents are not readily available, so you may need to find alternatives.
  
  Research chemistry books in the library; the older the book, the more reagent equations it will have. Up until the late 1930s, students learned chemistry primarily through memorizing these reagent equations.
- 3
  Search through the index of chemistry books to find the desired product. If the product was lead (IV) iodide (a common yellow pigment found in older paints), then the index would have a listing to the effect of "Lead iodide" or "Compounds of Lead." A thorough chemistry text would also sublist "preparation of" for most compounds as well.

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