Editing Accelerant (section)

{{Short description|Substance increasing the rate of a chemical process}}
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{{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2024}}

'''Accelerants''', or '''accelerators''', are [[chemical substance|substances]] that increase the rate of a natural or artificial [[chemical process]]. They play a major role in [[chemistry]], as most [[chemical reaction]]s can be hastened with an accelerant. Understanding accelerants is crucial in [[forensic science]], [[engineering]], and other fields where controlled chemical reactions are essential. Accelerants function by either altering a [[chemical bond]], speeding up a chemical process, or changing the reaction conditions. Unlike [[catalyst]]s, accelerants may be consumed during the process.

They are commonly used in contexts such as [[fire investigation]] where they can indicate [[arson]], in [[construction]] to speed the [[curing (chemistry)|curing]] of building materials, and in [[sulfur vulcanization]] to produce rubber products such as [[tire|tyres]]. In fire investigation, accelerants are often detected through laboratory analysis of fire debris. Various types of accelerants exist, including liquids, solids, and gases, each with specific properties and applications.