Checklist! What should you consider before ordering chemicals?

Ordering laboratory chemicals is a more careful process than purchasing regular products, as different chemicals have different properties, purities, and hazards. A small mistake can have far-reaching consequences, ranging from negating an entire experiment, wasting money, or causing serious harm to users and the workplace.

To prevent errors and make every order go smoothly and safely, we have created a checklist of 7 important points that you should check carefully every time before deciding to press to order chemicals.

7 Important Checklists Before Ordering Chemicals

1. Name, Chemical Formula, and CAS Number. This is the most important first step in identifying a chemical.

• Chemical name: Check the spelling of both the Common Name and the IUPAC name, if possible.
• chemical formula: It is another layer of identity verification, for example Sodium Chloride is NaCl.
• CAS Number: CAS Number is a unique numerical code for each chemical that is unique worldwide. It is the most accurate way to confirm that you are ordering the correct chemical, preventing confusion from similar names.

2. Purity Grade The same chemical can come in different grades, which directly affects its cost and suitability for use. Choosing the wrong grade can result in unnecessary waste or invalid results. Common grades include:

• Analytical Grade (AR): It has very high purity and is suitable for quantitative analysis that requires high accuracy.
• Laboratory Grade: It has a good level of purity, suitable for general experiments, teaching, or work that does not require the highest precision.
• Technical Grade: Used for industrial scale work, not suitable for use in analytical laboratories.

3. Package Size and Physical Form Consider the actual quantities required to avoid ordering too much or too little. Also, double check the “condition” of the chemical to see if it is a powder, liquid, or a ready-to-use concentrated solution. For example, do you need a 37% solution of Hydrochloric acid (HCl) or a 1M diluted HCl solution?

4. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) The SDS is the most important document for safety. Every user must study it before the chemical even reaches the lab. The SDS contains all the important information such as:

• Hazards of substances
• Safe handling and storage methods
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) required
• First aid procedures in the event of an accident

5. Certificate of Analysis (COA) For high precision or quality control (QC) applications, a COA is essential. This document is issued by the manufacturer to certify the properties of a chemical in a given batch. It lists the actual purity, contaminant levels, and other test data for reference and traceability.

6. Expiration Date Many chemicals have a limited shelf life. Checking the expiration date before ordering will ensure you have enough time to use the chemicals before they deteriorate, which could affect the accuracy of your experiments.

7. Reliable Supplier Choose a reliable vendor or company that can provide complete information and documentation (SDS, COA), has standardized storage and transportation processes, and can provide technical advice when needed. Choosing a good vendor is an investment in quality and safety.

Summary

Thoroughly checking the information according to these 7 checklists before pressing the order is a guarantee of the quality of the work in the laboratory. MIT Trade We are distributors and importers of laboratory chemicals with complete certification documents and a team ready to provide advice on choosing chemicals to meet your needs.