What Is "ACS Grade"?

ACS grade stands for American Chemical Society grade. This designation means that the chemical meets or exceeds the purity and labeling standards set by the ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents. It is one of the highest purity levels for reagents available commercially.

Criteria and Characteristics

1. Purity Standards:

· ACS grade chemicals must meet minimum purity levels defined in the ACS Reagent Chemicals reference manual.

· Typically, this means ≥95–99.9% purity, depending on the compound.

2. Trace Impurities:

· Must be below specific limits (parts per million or lower) for contaminants like heavy metals, water, or other reagents.

· Each lot is usually tested for a list of impurities and reported in the certificate of analysis.

3. Documentation:

· Lot-specific certificate of analysis (CoA) is provided.

· Complies with stringent labeling and traceability standards.

4. Intended Use:

· Suitable for analytical and quality control applications.

· Often used in pharmaceutical, biotech, food analysis, clinical, and academic research labs.

Comparison with Other Grades

Example Chemicals Labeled as ACS Grade

· Acetone, ACS grade – used as a solvent in high-precision labs.

· Sulfuric acid, ACS grade – for titrations and preparation of standard solutions.

· Sodium chloride, ACS grade – used in clinical assays.

Governing Document

The official standard is found in:

“Reagent Chemicals: Specifications and Procedures” by the ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents

Updated regularly, this book lists:

· Identity tests

· Impurity limits

· Test procedures

· Recommended storage

Notes on Use

· While ACS grade is high-purity, it is not necessarily sterile.

· For regulatory-sensitive work (e.g., FDA submission), check if USP/NF or EP compliance is also needed.

See all ACS Grade products