chemical agent

/ˌkɛməkəl ˌeɪdʒənt/

Other forms: chemical agents

Definitions of chemical agent

1. noun

   an agent that produces chemical reactions
   types:

   active, active agent

   chemical agent capable of activity

   reagent

   a chemical agent for use in chemical reactions

   desiccant, drier, drying agent, siccative

   a substance that promotes drying (e.g., calcium oxide absorbs water and is used to remove moisture)

   oxidant, oxidiser, oxidizer, oxidizing agent

   a substance that oxidizes another substance

   reducer, reducing agent, reductant

   a substance capable of bringing about the reduction of another substance as it itself is oxidized; used in photography to lessen the density of a negative or print by oxidizing some of the loose silver

   scavenger

   a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities

   surface-active agent, surfactant, wetter, wetting agent

   a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved

   vesicant, vesicatory

   a chemical agent that causes blistering (especially mustard gas)

   emulsifier

   a surface-active agent that promotes the formation of an emulsion

   hydrogen peroxide, peroxide

   a viscous liquid with strong oxidizing properties; a powerful bleaching agent; also used (in aqueous solutions) as a mild disinfectant and (in strong concentrations) as an oxidant in rocket fuels

   hydrazine

   a colorless fuming corrosive liquid; a powerful reducing agent; used chiefly in rocket fuels

   blistering agent, dichloroethyl sulfide, mustard agent, mustard gas, sulfur mustard

   a toxic war gas with sulfide based compounds that raises blisters and attacks the eyes and lungs; there is no known antidote

   detergent

   a surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering

   type of:

   agent

   a substance that exerts some force or effect