The study investigates the effect of homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions in the stagnation point nanofluid flow toward a cylinder. In the presence of uniform magnetic field, thermal radiation, and non uniform heat source or sink. As per the geometry of the flow configuration, the conservation laws are transformed into a nonlinear model. Using the appropriate analogue transformations, the resultant equations are employing RK-4th order approach along with shooting technique to derive closed-form solutions for momentum, angular velocity, temperature, and concentration fields as well as skin friction, local Nusselt number, and Sherwood number. It is observed that heat generation parameter leads to enhance the temperature distribution. The concentration boundary layer thickness decreases for larger homogeneous reaction rate parameter. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.