Solvent
Chemical Grades and Their Criteria
Chemicals are classified based on purity and intended application. Below are the most common grades used in laboratories, manufacturing, and research:
Grade
|
Description & Typical Use
|
Purity
|
ACS Grade
|
Meets or exceeds the standards of the American Chemical Society. Suitable for high-purity analytical work.
|
≥ 95–99.9%
|
Reagent Grade (AR)
|
Similar to ACS; suitable for precise laboratory and analytical applications.
|
≥ 95–99.9%
|
USP/NF Grade
|
Complies with U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) or National Formulary (NF) standards. Used in pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
|
≥ 95%
|
Food Grade
|
Safe for human consumption. Must meet FDA or USDA regulations.
|
≥ 95%
|
Laboratory Grade
|
Used in educational labs or general experiments. May contain impurities.
|
~85–95%
|
Technical Grade
|
Used in industrial processes where high purity is not required.
|
~70–90%
|
Industrial Grade
|
For large-scale industrial use; may contain significant impurities.
|
Not strictly defined
|
Electronic Grade
|
Extremely high purity required for semiconductors and electronics.
|
≥ 99.999% (5N to 9N)
|
HPLC/GC Grade
|
Solvents for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography (GC).
|
Ultra-high purity
|
Spectrophotometric Grade
|
Free of UV/Vis/IR interfering substances; used in optical analysis.
|
What to Check Before Purchase
1. Is the grade appropriate for your application? (e.g., ACS for analysis, Technical for production use)
2. Does the supplier provide a Certificate of Analysis (CoA)?
3. Are
impurity levels acceptable for your needs (ppm/ppb)?
4. Does the product meet regulatory standards (USP, NSF, FDA)?