Stabilizer

In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemistry" title="Chemistry" >chemistry</a> a stabilizer is a chemical which tends to inhibit the reaction between two or more other chemicals[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a>]. It can be thought of as the antonym to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalyst" title="Catalyst" class="mw-redirect" >catalyst</a>. The term can also refer to a chemical that inhibits separation of suspensions, emulsions, and foams.[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a>]

Some kinds of stabilizers are:

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<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant" title="Antioxidant" >antioxidants</a>, preventing unwanted oxidation of materials</li>

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequestrant" title="Sequestrant" >sequestrants</a>, forming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelation" title="Chelation" >chelate complexes</a> and inactivating traces of metal ions that would otherwise act as catalysts</li>

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulsifier" title="Emulsifier" class="mw-redirect" >emulsifiers</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant" title="Surfactant" >surfactants</a>, for stabilization of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulsion" title="Emulsion" >emulsions</a></li>

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UV_stabilizers_in_plastics" title="UV stabilizers in plastics" >ultraviolet stabilizers</a>, protecting materials, especially <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic" title="Plastic" >plastics</a>, from harmful effects of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet" title="Ultraviolet" >ultraviolet</a> radiation

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<li >UV absorbers, chemicals absorbing ultraviolet radiation and preventing it from penetrating the materials; principally the same as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen" title="Sunscreen" >sunscreens</a></li>

<li >quenchers, dissipating the radiation energy as heat instead of letting it break chemical bonds; often organic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel" title="Nickel" >nickel</a> salts, e.g. nickel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenolate" title="Phenolate" class="mw-redirect" >phenolates</a></li>

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scavenger_(chemistry)" title="Scavenger (chemistry)" >scavengers</a>, eliminating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_radical" title="Free radical" class="mw-redirect" >free radicals</a> formed by ultraviolet radiation; often hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS)</li>

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