diff --git a/interfaces/python/Cantera/Reactor.py b/interfaces/python/Cantera/Reactor.py
index c72b331e0..7985258f7 100644
--- a/interfaces/python/Cantera/Reactor.py
+++ b/interfaces/python/Cantera/Reactor.py
@@ -369,6 +369,23 @@ class Reactor(ReactorBase):
                              verbose = verbose, type = 2)
 
 
+class IdealGasReactor(ReactorBase):
+    """
+    Similar to :class:`.Reactor`, but with a set of governing equations
+    optimized specifically for ideal gas mixtures.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, contents = None, name = '',
+                 volume = 1.0, energy = 'on',
+                 verbose = 0):
+        global _reactorcount
+        if name == '':
+            name = 'IdealGasReactor_'+`_reactorcount`
+        _reactorcount += 1
+        ReactorBase.__init__(self, contents = contents, name = name,
+                             volume = volume, energy = energy,
+                             verbose = verbose, type = 5)
+
+
 class FlowReactor(ReactorBase):
     def __init__(self, contents = None, name = '',
                  volume = 1.0, energy = 'on',
@@ -438,6 +455,23 @@ class ConstPressureReactor(ReactorBase):
                              verbose = verbose, type = 4)
 
 
+class IdealGasConstPressureReactor(ReactorBase):
+    """
+    Similar to :class:`.ConstPressureReactor`, but with a set of governing
+    equations optimized specifically for ideal gas mixtures.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, contents = None, name = '',
+                 volume = 1.0, energy = 'on',
+                 verbose = 0):
+        global _reactorcount
+        if name == '':
+            name = 'IdealGasConstPRessureReactor_'+`_reactorcount`
+        _reactorcount += 1
+        ReactorBase.__init__(self, contents = contents, name = name,
+                             volume = volume, energy = energy,
+                             verbose = verbose, type = 6)
+
+
 class Reservoir(ReactorBase):
     """
     A reservoir is a reactor with a constant state. The temperature,
diff --git a/src/clib/ctreactor.cpp b/src/clib/ctreactor.cpp
index b317185a2..d0d49803f 100644
--- a/src/clib/ctreactor.cpp
+++ b/src/clib/ctreactor.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "cantera/zeroD/ConstPressureReactor.h"
 #include "cantera/zeroD/ReactorNet.h"
 #include "cantera/zeroD/Reservoir.h"
+#include "cantera/zeroD/ReactorFactory.h"
 #include "cantera/zeroD/Wall.h"
 #include "cantera/zeroD/flowControllers.h"
 #include "Cabinet.h"
@@ -37,18 +38,7 @@ extern "C" {
     int reactor_new(int type)
     {
         try {
-            ReactorBase* r=0;
-            if (type == ReactorType) {
-                r = new Reactor();
-            } else if (type == FlowReactorType) {
-                r = new FlowReactor();
-            } else if (type == ConstPressureReactorType) {
-                r = new ConstPressureReactor();
-            } else if (type == ReservoirType) {
-                r = new Reservoir();
-            } else {
-                r = new ReactorBase();
-            }
+            ReactorBase* r = ReactorFactory::factory()->newReactor(type);
             return ReactorCabinet::add(r);
         } catch (...) {
             return handleAllExceptions(-1, ERR);