Interacting at the Run

I am a reactant
Could be this
Could be that
Don't hate me for what I am
Or even what I will be

I am only what is made of me

Combined with fellow reagents
Some friends from the periodic table
An electrode inserted deep within
My cousin a battery near at hand

We commiserate
My elemental friends and I
What brings us together here?
We don't notice
But we are hidden in plain sight
People always passing by

Then everything comes together in an instant
The electricity flowing
Interactions with reactions
All fairly predictable
Given what we are as a group
This small explosive community

BOOM!

It's okay
We can talk about it
It's never too soon