In a chemical reaction, what are the substances called that are listed on the left side of the equation?

The substances listed on the left side of a chemical equation are called reactants. This terminology is used because reactants are the starting materials that undergo a chemical change to form new substances. During a chemical reaction, reactants interact according to the principles of chemical bonding and molecular interactions, resulting in the production of products, which are displayed on the right side of the equation. Understanding this distinction is fundamental in the study of chemical reactions, as it helps clarify how materials are transformed in the process. The other terms refer to different aspects of chemical reactions; for example, products are the substances formed, catalysts are agents that speed up reactions without being consumed, and solvents are substances that dissolve solutes, often in solutions, which is not directly relevant to the reaction equation itself.