Question

question 8 of 32
some vitamins and dietary supplements are stored in opaque, darkened bottles to protect them from uv light because uv light would cause a reaction. which word could be used to describe uv light in this situation?

a. reactant

b. catalyst

c. enzyme

d. solvent

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: A reactant is a substance that participates in a chemical reaction and is consumed. UV light is not a substance, so it's not a reactant.
2. Analyze Option B: A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed. UV light can provide the energy needed to initiate or speed up a reaction (like photochemical reactions), and it isn't consumed in the process, so this fits.
3. Analyze Option C: An enzyme is a biological catalyst (a protein), and UV light is not a biological molecule, so this is incorrect.
4. Analyze Option D: A solvent is a substance that dissolves another substance. UV light is not a substance that dissolves others, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Catalyst