Understanding the different grades of chemicals and reagents is critical  in various scientific and industrial sectors, from pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical device production to academic research and quality control laboratories.

Each grade defines specific purity levels and quality standards, ensuring the reagents are fit for their intended purpose and compliant with regulatory requirements.

Below is an overview of the seven most common chemical grades you’ll encounter in laboratories and production.

1. ACS Grade (American Chemical Society)

Purity: ≥ 95%

Use: Suitable for food, drug and medicinal applications

Description: Chemicals that meet or exceed ACS specifications are considered high-purity and suitable for most analytical and quality-control procedures. They are the benchmark for scientific and regulatory compliance in many laboratory settings.

2. Reagent Grade

Purity: Generally equivalent to ACS grade (≥ 95%)

Use: Acceptable for food, drug or medicinal use

Description: Reagent-grade chemicals are suitable for most laboratory and analytical applications. They meet high-purity standards, making them interchangeable with ACS-grade materials for many general-purpose experiments.

3. USP Grade (United States Pharmacopeia)

Standard: Meets or exceeds USP specifications

Use: For pharmaceutical, food and medicinal applications

Description: USP-grade chemicals comply with pharmaceutical compendia requirements, ensuring consistency and safety in drug formulation and quality control. Always verify the specific USP methodology for your intended use.

4. NF Grade (National Formulary)

Standard: Meets or exceeds National Formulary standards

Use: Pharmaceutical ingredients, dosage forms and compounded preparations

Description: NF-grade materials are used alongside USP-grade substances in pharmaceutical manufacturing. They ensure compliance in drug substances, excipients, and biologics where defined quality thresholds are required.

5. Laboratory Grade

Purity: Variable (impurity levels not specified)

Use: Not suitable for food, drug, or medicinal applications

Description: Common in educational and training laboratories, lab-grade chemicals are sufficient for demonstrations and general-purpose experiments, but not for regulated analytical or clinical use.

6. Purified Grade (Pure or Practical Grade)

Standard: No official specification

Use: Not suitable for food, drug, or medicinal applications

Description: Purified or practical-grade chemicals are of moderate purity and typically used for non-critical industrial or manufacturing purposes, where precise purity is not required.

7. Technical Grade

Purity: Lower than laboratory or reagent grade

Use: Industrial and commercial applications

Description: Technical-grade chemicals are intended for cleaning, manufacturing, or processing operations, where ultra-high purity is unnecessary. They should never be used in food, pharmaceutical, or analytical testing.

Choosing the Right Chemical Grade

ACS, Reagent and USP–NF grades are often equivalent and interchangeable, depending on your procedure’s specifications. It is critical to confirm compatibility and compliance before substitution.

Using a lower-purity grade than required can lead to inaccurate results, product contamination or regulatory noncompliance, especially in pharmaceutical or analytical workflows.

Selecting the proper chemical or reagent grade is  a cornerstone of data integrity, product safety and regulatory compliance. Always verify grade requirements before purchasing or using any chemical material to avoid costly errors and ensure consistent results.

Related Articles:

J&K Scientific - Research Laboratory Solutions