Analysis Reagents and Reagents of the Electronics Industry

The purpose of a reagent is to catalyze a chemical reaction or to determine if a reaction will occur. The reaction may prove the presence or absence of a substance or chemical, or analyze a known chemical. Two separate fields – analysis reagents and electronic industry reagents – are among many specialty industries requiring the use of reagents. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem is proud to offer reagents for these industries and others.

Analysis (or analytic) reagents are utilized in analytical chemistry, using a change of color, precipitation, fluorescence or an alternate method of recognition to determine if another chemical or additive is present and, if so, at what concentration.

Reagents generally have 2 strong factors – sensitivity and selectivity – that set them apart from other chemicals and categorize them into a number of varied roles. Reagents may be specific, in which case their reaction occurs with only a scant number of chemicals to ascertain their presence within a substance. An example of a selective analytical reagent is silver nitrate, which reacts by precipitation when chloride or bromide are present. On the other side of the coin are group reagents, which are able to separate several ionic substances simultaneously. The majority of inorganic analytical reagents fall into the category of specific agents while organic analytical reagents are generally group reagents.

Bell Chem stocks a number of analysis reagents including glacial acetic acid, boric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, and sulfuric acid, which will prove or disprove the presence of an analyte – a substance identified by its chemical components. These chemicals may be used in conjunction with varied forms of instrumental analysis, such as lasers, chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, titration, water quality control, mass spectrometry, or simple microscopy. 

An important sub-field of analysis reagents is within the electronics industry. Electronics demand extremely precise reagents of ultra high purity (99.99% pure is often referred to as 4N while 99.999% pure is 5N) to detect slight infiltration of unwanted metallic debris (trace element analysis), often detecting metallic infiltrates ranging from parts per billion (ppb) to parts per trillion (ppt). These reagents are often categorized as ASTM level “O”. Electronic grade reagents are referred to as “wet” chemicals since they are primarily utilized in a liquid form. Among electronic grade reagents stocked by Bell Chem are acetic acid, acetone, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid.

Electronic-grade reagents are utilized in scientific research fields, in fiber-optic communications, in microelectronics and semiconductors, and chemical and physical trace analysis.  

Bell Chem is your industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including dozens of reagents. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Tricalcium Phosphate in the Food Industry

Tricalcium phosphate is a virtually insoluble calcium salt of phosphoric acid. These properties make it ideal for many uses within the food industry, and because tricalcium phosphate is sourced from a mineral, it is considered vegan-friendly and allowed for use in organic products in the U.S. Bell Chem, a food and reagent product supplier, has compiled a short list of tricalcium phosphate’s most widely known uses.  

Anti-Caking
Tricalcium phosphate’s insolubility plays a vital role when it is an ingredient in dry cake and biscuit mixes, dry soups, powdered drink mixes, and any other food or drink mixture where flowability is necessary. Physically, tricalcium phosphate is a chalky, fine, white powder that can absorb 10% of its overall mass in moisture. Because moisture causes mixes to clump, this water absorption feature keeps mixes flowing freely.

Buffering Agent
Many fermented or canned items, such as jellies, wines, and condiments, have a naturally low pH. Tricalcium phosphate acts as a pH regulator, or buffer, to bring the pH to a more basic level. Acids have a strong flavor; the addition of tricalcium phosphate decreases that flavor, giving foods a more enjoyable taste.Clouding AgentReduced-fat foods often have a distinct mouthfeel that most people do not enjoy. As a clouding agent, tricalcium phosphate adds opacity while it smooths out lumps with its anti-caking properties. The result is a much more robust gravy or soy milk, for instance with a more robust viscosity we recognize as fatty.

Supplement
Calcium is an important mineral that strengthens bones. It bonds readily with other minerals, such as phosphates, to stabilize the molecule and deliver both minerals to the body. Phosphorus plays an active role in cell signaling and energy production throughout the body as well as in nucleic acids, the building blocks of DNA. Added to juice, cereal, or milk, tricalcium phosphate is likely to be the ingredient in these and other “high in calcium” products. Calcium is often paired with Vitamin D (such as in milk and other dairy products) since Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium.

 Bell Chem is a food and reagent product supplier with hundreds of products, such as tricalcium phosphate, stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.