Laboratory Chemicals & Reagents

Types

• Laboratory reagent (LR) grade — general-purpose chemicals for school practicals and teaching.
• Analytical reagent (AR) grade — higher purity for analysis and quality testing.
• Guaranteed reagent (GR) or ACS grade — tight purity limits for precise analytical work.
• Diagnostic reagents and kits — ready-to-use test kits for pathology and clinical labs, including stains.
• Solvents and acids — bulk liquids such as methanol, acetone, hydrochloric and sulphuric acid.
• Buffers, indicators and standard solutions — prepared solutions of known concentration for titration and calibration.

What to check before buying

• Grade and purity stated on the label, matched to the test method you follow.
• Certificate of analysis and safety data sheet for each batch.
• Manufacturing and expiry dates, and shelf life remaining at delivery.
• Pack size and packing material, such as amber glass or HDPE bottles, with sealed caps.
• Hazard class: flammable, corrosive and toxic items need safe transport and storage.
• For diagnostic kits, CDSCO registration where required, cold-chain handling, and a GST invoice with batch details.

Who buys them

Schools, colleges, hospitals, pathology labs, research institutes, factories, universities and government laboratories.

Frequently asked questions

Which grade should a school lab buy?

LR grade is generally enough for school experiments. Use AR grade only where results must be precise.

How should I plan quantities?

Estimate by practicals per term and group size, and avoid stocking more than one year of consumption, since some chemicals degrade.

How are hazardous chemicals delivered?

Suppliers must pack and label them as per hazard class. Common brands include Merck, SRL, Qualigens, Loba Chemie and Himedia.