Difference between revisions of "Chemical grades"

Revision as of 04:07, 14 June 2015

There are many different grades, also know as purities of chemicals. Chemical purity is important in many applications, but most procedures carried out by amateur chemists don't require a specific purity of reagent.

Common reagent grades by locality

United States

ACS Reagent: A reagent that meets or exceeds the specification of the American Chemical Society. ACS reagents are high quality chemicals for lab use. A certificate of analysis or (COA) can be provided by the manufacturer.

Guaranteed Reagent (GR): A reagent that usually meets ACS specifications and is meant for analytical chemistry. 

AR: A reagent that is suitable for laboratory use.

Reagent: The highest available purity for a reagent that the American Chemical Society does not have specifications for.

Purified: A chemical of good quality, this is fine for amateur chemistry.

Lab Grade: A reagent suitable for general lab applications.

USP: Meets standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia.

FCC: Chemicals that meet the standards set by the Food Chemical Codex, FCC reagents are food grade.

Technical: Reagents that have not been analyzed or are industrial grade. These may or may not have significant contaminants.

Poland

Cz.: Reagent for general lab usage.

Cz.d.a: Reagent for analysis.

Some things may have no grade, or be mixtures, and thus are 'general use' grade, or 'consumer grade'.

Sources

Reagents: http://www.reagents.com/products/reagents/grades.html