  Nuclear reactions may affect gravitational-wave signals from neutron-star
mergers, but the impact is uncertain. In order to quantify the effect, we
compare two numerical simulations representing intuitive extremes. In one case
reactions happen instantaneously. In the other case, they occur on timescales
much slower than the evolutionary timescale. We show that, while the
differences in the two gravitational-wave signals are small, they should be
detectable by third-generation observatories. To avoid systematic errors in
equation of state parameters inferred from observed signals, we need to
accurately implement nuclear reactions in future simulations.
