What type of reactants are used in reactions involving alkanes?

Reactions involving alkanes commonly utilize reagents, which are substances that participate in a chemical reaction. In the context of alkanes, these reagents may include halogens in reactions such as halogenation or reagents like ozone in ozonolysis. Reagents are specifically chosen for their ability to interact with the alkane, facilitating the desired reaction, which often requires conditions such as heat or light to initiate the process.

Other options do not serve as external substances that actively participate in the reaction with alkanes. Catalysts, while sometimes used to speed up reactions, do not get consumed and do not directly react with the alkanes themselves. Products are the substances formed as a result of the chemical reaction, not the reactants. Solvents serve as the medium in which reactions occur but do not generally take part in the chemical change associated with the alkanes. Therefore, the role of reagents is integral, as they are the active components that interact with alkanes in various chemical processes.