- Organic molecules primarily contain various types of covalent bonds between the constituent atoms. During an organic reaction, molecules of the reactant undergo change in their structure. A covalent bond at a carbon atom in the reactant is broken and a new covalent bond is formed at it, giving rise to the product.
- The reactant that provides carbon to the new bond is called substrate. In other words, substrate is a chemical species which reacts with reagent to give corresponding products.
- The other reactant which brings about this change is called reagent.
- Apart from the product of interest, some other products are also formed in an organic reaction. These are called byproducts.
e.g.
In following reaction, methane is the substrate and chlorine is the reagent. The product of interest is methyl chloride and the byproduct is HCl.
