ACSgrade

ACSgrade is a designation used by chemical suppliers to indicate that a reagent conforms to the purity requirements associated with the American Chemical Society's standard for reagents, often aligned with the ACS Reagent Chemicals standard. The term does not correspond to a single universal numerical purity; instead, it signals that the product has undergone quality control to meet high-purity benchmarks suitable for analytical and synthetic work.

Purity levels labeled as ACSgrade vary by chemical and supplier but typically imply low levels of water, inorganic contaminants, and residual solvents. Many common solvents and reagents are offered as ACSgrade to ensure consistent performance in routine laboratory tasks. For highly sensitive analyses or separations, scientists may opt for higher-grade classifications such as HPLC grade or spectroscopic grade, which generally impose stricter limits on impurities and trace metals and on UV absorbance.

Some suppliers provide a certificate of analysis (CoA) with ACSgrade products, detailing assay purity, water content, impurity speciation, and trace elements. However, the ACS itself does not certify every product; rather, vendors align their offerings with the standards published by the ACS Reagent Chemicals program.

ACSgrade is widely used in teaching and research laboratories as a practical balance between purity and cost. It is distinct from lower grades such as technical or commercial grade and from specialized grades tailored to chromatographic or analytical applications. Availability spans many common reagents, solvents, and crystallized compounds.