Reactivity (chemistry)

Reactivity (chemistry)

Reactivity in chemistry refers to

• the chemical reactions of a single substance,
• the chemical reactions of two or more substances that interact with each other,
• the systematic study of sets of reactions of these two kinds,
• methodology that applies to the study of reactivity of chemicals of all kinds,
• experimental methods that are used to observe these processes,
• theories to predict and to account for these processes.

The chemical reactivity of a single substance (reactant) covers its behaviour in which

• it decomposes,
• it forms new substances by addition of atoms from another reactant or reactants,
• reactions in which it interacts with two or more other reactants to form two or more products.

The chemical reactivity of a substance can refer to

• the variety of circumstances (conditions that include temperature, pressure, presence of catalysts) in which it reacts, in combination with
• the variety of substances with which it reacts,
• the equilibrium point of the reaction (i.e. the extent to which all of it reacts),
• the rate of the reaction.

A responsible discussion of chemical reactivity can be found in any standard textbook on physical chemistry.