- yes, yes, there are some. For nonmagical reagents, the ones used at large scales where it'd be important to invent a cheaper version are bleaching powder, used in cloth production; soda ash, used for glass, textile, soap, and papermaking. There's a standing large prize for a process to produce alkali from sea salt; likewise there are efforts to make naphtha, pitch oil, and sal ammoniac. 

- yes, yes, there are some. For nonmagical reagents, the ones used at large scales where it'd be important to invent a cheaper version are bleaching powder, used in cloth production, and soda ash, used for glass, textile, soap, and papermaking. There's a standing large prize for a process to produce alkali from sea salt; likewise there are efforts to make naphtha, pitch oil, and sal ammoniac.