chemicalgrade

Chemical grade is a general designation used by suppliers to describe the purity and suitability of a chemical for specific applications. It is not a formal, universal standard; the exact impurities allowed and the required purity depend on the substance and the intended use, and are defined by commercial specifications and applicable pharmacopoeias, regulatory guidelines, or industry practices. In common laboratory and manufacturing contexts, several grades are recognized: analytical/reagent grade (often aligning with ACS reagent grade) offers high purity appropriate for most experiments; HPLC- or GC-grade solvents meet stringent requirements for chromatography; USP/NF grade complies with pharmacopeial standards; pharmaceutical grade is used for drug synthesis and product formulation; technical grade has lower purity and is typically used for general industrial processes; food grade and feed grade meet food safety standards for consumables and animal feeds; and other region-specific grades may apply.

Purity is usually stated as a percentage, with additional details on water content, residual solvents, metals, and other impurities included in a certificate of analysis (COA). The choice of chemical grade affects performance, regulatory compliance, and potential impacts on analytical results and product quality. Suppliers typically provide COAs and safety data sheets to verify whether a given grade meets the required specifications. Consumers should select grades that match the intended use and regulatory requirements, and verify specification sheets before purchase.