Chemical Glossary for B2B Buyers

Plain-language definitions of terms used in industrial chemical trade—CAS, COA, SDS, RFQ, Incoterms and more. Written for importers, formulators and procurement teams.

• CAS Number — A CAS Number (CAS Registry Number) is a unique numeric identifier assigned to a chemical substance b…
• Certificate of Analysis (COA) — A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a batch-level quality document listing assay results, impurities …
• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — An SDS (Safety Data Sheet), formerly often called MSDS, is a standardized document describing hazard…
• RFQ (Request for Quote) — An RFQ is a buyer message listing product identity, quantity, packing, destination and commercial te…
• Incoterms — Incoterms are standardized trade terms published by the ICC that define cost and risk transfer point…
• MOQ — MOQ is the smallest quantity a supplier will sell under stated packing and price conditions—often on…
• Assay / Purity — Assay is the measured purity of a chemical lot, usually expressed as a percentage on the COA, someti…
• Flash Point — Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to form an ignitable m…
• Glycol Ether — Glycol ethers are a family of solvents derived from glycols (e.g. propylene glycol methyl ether, PGM…
• Industrial Solvent — An industrial solvent is a liquid used to dissolve, dilute or disperse other substances in manufactu…
• Chemical Intermediate — A chemical intermediate is a substance produced in a multi-step synthesis that is further converted …
• HS Code — An HS code is an international customs classification number used to declare goods for import/export…

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