Laboratory reagents and standards

The grade printed on a reagent bottle tells you what was tested. ACS reagent grade meets the specifications of the American Chemical Society, analytical reagent (AR) or pro analysi grades meet similar limits in other systems, and HPLC, LC-MS, GC and spectroscopy grades add tests for UV absorbance, residue, particles or ionisation background. Pharmacopoeia grades meet USP, Ph. Eur. or other monographs, and certified reference materials come with a certificate of traceable values and uncertainty.

When you request quotes, give the CAS number or exact name, the grade, pack size and quantity, and the documents you need, such as a certificate of analysis or a certificate of conformity. Many labs need small packs of many items, so a bulk quote from a list can save time. Remember that some reagents are controlled because they are drug precursors, explosives precursors or chemical weapons precursors, and suppliers may need an end-user declaration or licence before they can ship.