Xylene is sold in two dimensions: isomer composition and purity grade. Most industrial buyers purchase mixed xylenes (CAS 1330-20-7), a blend of the ortho, meta, and para isomers. Above that sit purity grades — standard or production, ACS, USP, HPLC, and high purity — along with single-isomer material such as p-xylene, bought as a chemical intermediate rather than as a solvent.

Which one you need depends on whether xylene is doing work as a solvent, as a feedstock, or as an analytical reagent. This guide separates the isomers from the grades, gives the hard numbers for each, and lists what to check on a certificate of analysis.

What is xylene?

Xylene, also called dimethylbenzene or xylol, is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the molecular formula C₈H₁₀ and a molecular weight of 106.16 g/mol, per the PubChem record for o-xylene (CID 7237); the meta (CID 7929) and para (CID 7809) isomers share the same formula and weight. It is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor, used as a solvent and thinner for coatings, printing inks, adhesives, and rubber processing, as a chemical intermediate, and in laboratory histology.

Three structural isomers exist, differing only in where the two methyl groups sit on the benzene ring. Those small structural differences produce meaningfully different boiling and freezing points, which is exactly why the grades below exist.

What are the xylene isomers and how do they differ?

All values below are from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.

The freezing point of p-xylene is the number that surprises people. NIOSH notes that p-xylene is a solid below 56°F, so drums or totes of high-purity para material stored in an unheated warehouse over winter will solidify. Mixed xylenes do not have this problem, because the other isomers depress the freezing point.

What is mixed xylene?

Mixed xylenes (CAS 1330-20-7) is a blend of the ortho, meta, and para isomers, typically also containing ethylbenzene. It is the default commercial product and the form most solvent buyers mean when they say xylene. Because it is a blend, it distills over a range rather than at a single temperature, so specifications are written as a distillation range plus an aromatic content minimum rather than as a single-component purity.

If a formulation calls for a solvent with a specific evaporation rate, mixed xylene is usually the right and cheaper choice. If a process needs one isomer as a reactant, isomer-grade material is required and the price reflects the separation cost.

Which xylene grades can you buy?

The same logic applies across analytical solvents generally — our explainer on ACS vs HPLC vs reagent grade covers how these designations are written and why HPLC grade costs more than ACS for the same nominal purity. Buyers comparing aromatic solvents often also weigh toluene, which is lighter and faster-evaporating than xylene.

What should you check on a xylene certificate of analysis?

• Identity and CAS. 1330-20-7 for mixed xylenes; 95-47-6, 108-38-3, or 106-42-3 for single isomers.
• Distillation range. For mixed xylenes this is the primary performance number.
• Isomer distribution and ethylbenzene content, when the process is sensitive to either.
• Water content, which matters for coatings and for any moisture-sensitive reaction.
• Non-volatile residue, the number that separates analytical grades from production grades.
• Color, usually reported on the platinum-cobalt scale.

See how to read a certificate of analysis for a section-by-section walkthrough.

Is xylene hazardous?

Yes. All three isomers carry an OSHA permissible exposure limit of 100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA and a NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 100 ppm TWA with a 150 ppm short-term limit, per the NIOSH Pocket Guide. The IDLH is 900 ppm. All three are Class IC flammable liquids, with flash points between 81°F and 90°F, and all three are incompatible with strong oxidizers and strong acids. Exposure routes include inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, and skin or eye contact.

Always work from the current safety data sheet for the exact grade you received — see our guide to reading a safety data sheet, and pull current documents from the RightPath SDS library. For converting between volume and weight when sizing an order, use the RightPath conversion tools.

What grades and sizes do we stock?

RightPath Industries supplies mixed xylenes in Standard/Production, ACS, USP, HPLC, and High Purity grades, available in gallons, pails, drums, totes, and bulk, packed to your specification and lot-controlled on request. Xylene sits in our aromatics and solvents ranges, alongside toluene and the rest of a catalog of more than 8,000 chemicals shipped from our Pittsburgh headquarters.

How do you order xylene from RightPath?

Send the grade, the packaging size, the annual or per-shipment volume, and the destination. We will cross-reference your current specification exactly and return pricing with the SDS and documentation package. Request bulk pricing for same-day response.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between xylene and mixed xylene?

Xylene names the compound C8H10 in any of its three isomeric forms. Mixed xylene is the commercial product, CAS 1330-20-7, that blends the ortho, meta, and para isomers and usually contains ethylbenzene. Most industrial solvent purchases are mixed xylene.

What is the flash point of xylene?

NIOSH lists flash points of 90°F for o-xylene, 82°F for m-xylene, and 81°F for p-xylene. All three are classified as Class IC flammable liquids, meaning a flash point at or above 73°F and below 100°F.

What is the OSHA exposure limit for xylene?

The OSHA permissible exposure limit for o-, m-, and p-xylene is 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The NIOSH recommended exposure limit is also 100 ppm TWA, with a 150 ppm short-term exposure limit, and the IDLH is 900 ppm.

Which xylene grade is used in histology labs?

Pathology laboratories use histological grade xylene for clearing and deparaffinizing tissue sections. It is specified for consistent clearing performance and low residue rather than for a single-isomer purity target.

Does xylene freeze in cold storage?

High-purity p-xylene does. NIOSH notes p-xylene is a solid below 56°F. Mixed xylenes remain liquid at far lower temperatures because the other isomers depress the freezing point; m-xylene freezes at -54°F and o-xylene at -13°F.

“Hexane” is a family, not one product. n-Hexane (CAS 110-54-3) is the straight-chain isomer, and it is the only one NIOSH associates with peripheral neuropathy — its REL is 50 ppm against an OSHA PEL of 500 ppm. Mixed hexanes are the branched isomers, with a NIOSH REL of 100 ppm and no OSHA PEL. Cyclohexane (CAS 110-82-7) is a ring compound with its own 300 ppm limit.

What are the three products sold as "hexane"?

Order "hexane" from three suppliers and you can receive three different materials. All share the formula C₆H₁₄ except cyclohexane, and all look and smell alike, but their exposure limits and health effects diverge sharply.

• n-Hexane — the single straight-chain isomer, CAS 110-54-3. Sold at 95% or higher purity for extraction and analytical work. This is the regulated one.
• Mixed hexanes (hexane isomers) — a blend that NIOSH defines as all isomers of hexane except n-hexane: 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, and related branched structures. Commercial "hexanes" typically still contain some n-hexane, which is why the blend assay matters.
• Cyclohexane — C₆H₁₂, CAS 110-82-7, a six-carbon ring rather than a chain. It is a different chemical entirely, freezes at 44 °F, and is used mainly as a nylon feedstock and a resin solvent.

How do n-hexane, mixed hexanes, and cyclohexane compare?

All values below come from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards and PubChem.

To convert these densities into drum, tote, or tank-truck weights for a specific fill, use the RightPath chemical density and volume calculators.

Why does the n-hexane distinction matter?

Because the health effects are not the same. NIOSH lists the symptoms of n-hexane exposure as eye and nose irritation; nausea and headache; peripheral neuropathy, including numb extremities and muscle weakness; dermatitis; dizziness; and chemical pneumonitis on aspiration. The NIOSH entry for hexane isomers lists eye, skin, and respiratory irritation; headache; dizziness; nausea; chemical pneumonitis; and dermatitis — with no peripheral neuropathy.

That difference is why NIOSH sets the n-hexane REL at 50 ppm, ten times lower than the OSHA PEL of 500 ppm, and why many EHS programs specify low-n-hexane blends or substitute mixed hexanes wherever the process allows. If your industrial hygiene program is written around "hexane," confirm which material is actually in the tank — the exposure limit you are monitoring against depends on it.

Section 3 of the Safety Data Sheet gives the concentration range of n-hexane in a mixed-hexane product. See how to read a Safety Data Sheet for the full section breakdown.

Which hexane grade should you specify?

For deeper background on the chemical itself, see the Hexane properties, uses, and bulk supply guide. For what analytical grade designations actually mean, see ACS vs HPLC vs USP grade solvents.

How should hexane be stored and shipped?

All three are Class IB flammable liquids: flash point below 73 °F and boiling point at or above 100 °F. n-Hexane flashes at −7 °F and cyclohexane at 0 °F, so both require flammable-liquid storage, bonding and grounding during transfer, and ignition-source control. All three are incompatible with strong oxidizers.

Chain hexanes ship under UN1208 with ERG Guide 128; cyclohexane ships under UN1145, also Guide 128. Confirm the packing group and proper shipping name against Section 14 of the product SDS before generating a bill of lading. For the general framework, see DOT hazmat classes for solvents.

Cyclohexane has one storage quirk the chain hexanes do not: it freezes at 44 °F. Drums and totes stored in an unheated warehouse through winter can solidify and need to be re-liquefied before transfer.

What hexane grades and sizes does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-headquartered bulk chemical distributor carrying over 8,000 chemicals, including all three hexane products.

The full aliphatic and aromatic solvent range is listed on the bulk solvent supplier page. To pick a container size against your draw rate, see Drum vs IBC Tote vs Bulk.

How do you order hexane from RightPath?

1. State which material you need — n-hexane 95%, mixed hexanes, or cyclohexane — and the grade (technical, ACS, or HPLC).
2. If n-hexane content is controlled by your EHS program, say so, and we will quote against the assay range you need.
3. Give the monthly or annual volume and delivery point so freight is priced into the quote, not added afterward.
4. Request bulk pricing for an all-in landed-cost quote, typically same day.
5. Pull the current sheet from the SDS library and request the lot COA before first shipment.

Frequently asked questions

Is hexane the same as n-hexane?

No. n-Hexane is one specific isomer, CAS 110-54-3. Commercial "hexane" or "hexanes" is usually a blend of C₆H₁₄ isomers that still contains some n-hexane. Because the exposure limits differ — a NIOSH REL of 50 ppm for n-hexane versus 100 ppm for the isomer blend — the two are not interchangeable on a specification sheet.

Which hexane is the toxic one?

n-Hexane. NIOSH lists peripheral neuropathy, including numb extremities and muscle weakness, among its exposure symptoms. The entry for hexane isomers does not list peripheral neuropathy. All hexanes cause irritation, dizziness, and dermatitis, and all present chemical pneumonitis risk if aspirated.

What is the OSHA exposure limit for hexane?

The OSHA PEL for n-hexane is 500 ppm (1800 mg/m³) as an 8-hour TWA. NIOSH recommends 50 ppm (180 mg/m³). OSHA has no PEL for the other hexane isomers; NIOSH recommends 100 ppm TWA with a 510 ppm 15-minute ceiling. Cyclohexane has an OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL of 300 ppm.

Is cyclohexane a type of hexane?

No. Cyclohexane is C₆H₁₂, a saturated six-carbon ring, while the hexanes are C₆H₁₄ open chains. Cyclohexane boils higher (80.7 °C versus 68.7 °C), is denser (0.78 versus 0.66), and freezes at 44 °F. It ships under a different UN number, UN1145.

How much does a gallon of hexane weigh?

About 5.5 pounds per US gallon for n-hexane, based on a specific gravity of 0.66. Cyclohexane weighs about 6.49 pounds per gallon at a specific gravity of 0.78. Hexane is one of the lightest common industrial solvents, which matters when you are comparing a price quoted per pound against one quoted per gallon.

Can I substitute mixed hexanes for n-hexane?

Often yes for degreasing, adhesives, and general solvent duty, and it usually lowers both cost and neurotoxicity exposure risk. Not for HPLC mobile phases, pharmaceutical crystallization, or any validated process where the boiling range and single-isomer solubility behavior are part of the specification.

Authoritative sources

• NIOSH Pocket Guide — n-Hexane
• NIOSH Pocket Guide — Hexane isomers
• NIOSH Pocket Guide — Cyclohexane
• PubChem CID 8058 — n-Hexane
• PubChem CID 8078 — Cyclohexane

Need a quote? Request bulk pricing from RightPath Industries for n-hexane, mixed hexanes, or cyclohexane in drums, totes, tank truck, or railcar.

Glacial acetic acid is bought in bulk from chemical distributors, not from the producers. Acetic acid is made by a handful of large petrochemical producers who sell in barge and rail quantities. Anyone buying below a full tank truck goes through a distributor that stocks drums, IBC totes, and bulk — RightPath Industries among them, shipping nationwide with same-day quotes.

What counts as “bulk” glacial acetic acid?

Bulk means anything above a case of small containers. In practice, four purchase tiers exist, and which one you sit in decides who will sell to you.

Glacial acetic acid is corrosive, so packaging is not a free choice: it requires lined or stainless steel, or specific approved plastics. Our comparison of drums vs. IBC totes vs. bulk and the breakdown of chemical drum sizes and UN ratings cover the handling economics.

Who sells glacial acetic acid in bulk in the U.S.?

Four kinds of supplier serve this market, and they are not interchangeable.

RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-headquartered independent distributor carrying more than 8,000 chemicals, recognized as a top-10 ethanol distributor in the United States, and supplying glacial acetic acid alongside the rest of its industrial acid portfolio. Quotes go out the same day, all-in and delivered.

If you are running a formal supplier selection, our procurement buyer’s guide to choosing a bulk chemical distributor lays out the qualification criteria.

What drives the price of bulk glacial acetic acid?

Nobody can quote acetic acid off a list. The delivered price moves with methanol and carbon monoxide feedstock costs, plant outages, import parity, and — often the largest swing factor at drum and tote volume — freight. Five levers move your number:

• Volume tier. Cost per pound falls sharply from drums to totes to tank truck.
• Grade. Technical grade costs less than reagent, USP, or food-grade material with tighter specs and documentation.
• Freight lane. Corrosive hazmat freight and distance from the stocking terminal drive delivered cost more than most buyers expect.
• Packaging. Returnable totes, one-way totes, and drums carry different container costs and deposits.
• Contract vs. spot. A committed annual volume prices differently than a one-off replenishment.

Compare quotes on a delivered, all-in basis or you will compare nothing at all. Our guide to the true landed cost of bulk chemicals shows which line items suppliers commonly leave off the first number they give you.

What specs and grades should you put on the purchase order?

“Glacial” describes concentration, not quality. It means essentially water-free acetic acid — so named because it freezes into ice-like crystals just below room temperature. It is not a grade. Specify both.

Ask what each grade designation actually commits the supplier to before you pay the premium — our explainer on ACS vs. HPLC vs. reagent grade covers the distinctions, and how to read a Certificate of Analysis shows how to verify the claim on arrival.

What are the hazmat and shipping requirements?

Glacial acetic acid ships as a corrosive with a flammability subsidiary risk. These figures come from the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards entry for acetic acid.

Two operational consequences follow. First, that 62 °F freezing point: glacial acetic acid solidifies in an unheated winter trailer or an outdoor tote, so plan for heated storage or thawing time. Second, the 103 °F flash point makes it a combustible liquid on top of being corrosive — see our reference on DOT hazmat classes, UN numbers, and packing groups.

What should a glacial acetic acid quote include?

• Delivered price with freight, fuel surcharge, and hazmat fees itemized — not “plus freight”
• Grade and the specification it is certified against
• Package format, container deposit or return terms, and net weight per unit
• Lead time from PO to dock, and the stocking terminal it ships from
• SDS and COA supplied before the first delivery
• Price validity window and minimum order quantity

What sizes of glacial acetic acid does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries supplies glacial acetic acid in 55-gallon drums, IBC totes, and bulk tank truck quantities, with technical and higher-purity grades available to specification. Every lot ships with a Safety Data Sheet and a Certificate of Analysis, and current sheets are available in the RightPath SDS library. For the chemistry itself — properties, uses, and handling — see our glacial acetic acid properties and safety guide.

How do you order glacial acetic acid from RightPath Industries?

Send four things: grade, annual or per-order volume, package format, and delivery ZIP code. You get a same-day, all-in delivered quote — no discovery call required first. RightPath ships nationwide from drums through tank trucks and carries more than 8,000 chemicals, so acid, solvent, and glycol lines can consolidate onto one vendor and one invoice.

Request bulk pricing on glacial acetic acid

Frequently asked questions about buying glacial acetic acid in bulk

What is the minimum order for bulk glacial acetic acid?

From a distributor, the practical minimum is one 55-gallon drum. Producers generally will not sell below rail car or barge quantities. Lab supply houses sell smaller containers, but the cost per pound is far higher than drum pricing.

What is the difference between glacial acetic acid and vinegar?

Concentration. Glacial acetic acid is essentially water-free acetic acid and is corrosive to skin and eyes. Vinegar contains roughly 5–8% acetic acid in water and is a food product. They are the same molecule at completely different strengths, and they are not interchangeable.

Why does glacial acetic acid freeze in storage?

Its freezing point is 62 °F (16.7 °C), just below normal room temperature. Drums and totes left in unheated warehouses or winter trailers will solidify. Store above 62 °F, or allow time and controlled heat to re-liquefy the material before transfer.

What DOT hazard class is glacial acetic acid?

Glacial acetic acid ships under UN2789 with ERG Guide 132 at concentrations above 80% acid. Solutions of 10–80% acid ship under UN2790 with ERG Guide 153. It is corrosive, with a flammable subsidiary risk from its 103 °F flash point.

How long does it take to get a bulk glacial acetic acid quote?

RightPath Industries returns quotes the same business day when the request includes grade, volume, package format, and delivery ZIP code. Lead time to the dock depends on the stocking terminal and the freight lane and is stated on the quote.

Authoritative reference: the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards entry for acetic acid (CAS 64-19-7) for exposure limits, physical constants, and DOT identifiers. Always work from the current SDS for the specific product delivered to your site.

ACS, reagent, HPLC, and USP are chemical purity grades that tell you exactly how pure a chemical is and what it is certified for. ACS grade meets American Chemical Society specifications (the highest general-purpose lab standard and usually identical to “reagent grade”), HPLC grade is purified and filtered specifically for chromatography, and USP grade meets United States Pharmacopeia limits for pharmaceutical and food use. Picking the right grade controls both your results and your cost.

What do chemical purity grades actually mean?

A grade is a certification standard, not just a percentage on a label. Two drums can both read “99% pure” while one carries trace metals or UV-absorbing impurities that ruin a sensitive assay and the other does not. The grade tells you which specification body the material was tested against and what impurity limits it must fall under. That is why buyers should specify grade on every purchase order and confirm it against the Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot.

How is ACS grade different from reagent grade?

In practice they are the same thing. “Reagent grade” almost always means the material meets or exceeds the specifications set by the American Chemical Society Committee on Analytical Reagents. It is the default high-purity choice for analytical chemistry, titrations, and lab reagent preparation. When a supplier lists “ACS Reagent,” that is the ACS specification.

What is HPLC grade and when do you need it?

HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) grade solvents are purified for chromatography and spectroscopy. Beyond a high assay, they are certified for low UV absorbance across a wavelength range, low non-volatile residue after evaporation, and are filtered (typically to 0.2 µm) so they will not clog columns or create baseline noise. A solvent can be ACS grade and still fail an HPLC run because ACS specs do not control UV cutoff. If you are running LC-MS or gradient HPLC, order HPLC or LC-MS grade, not ACS.

Where do USP, lab, and technical grades fit?

USP grade meets United States Pharmacopeia acceptance criteria and is appropriate for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food-adjacent manufacturing. Below the analytical grades sit laboratory grade (good purity, no formal spec sheet — fine for teaching and non-critical work), technical/commercial grade (industrial purity for cleaning, extraction, and manufacturing), and purified/practical grade in between.

Chemical grade comparison table

Use this reference to match grade to application. Typical assay ranges are indicative; always confirm against the lot Certificate of Analysis.

For example, acetonitrile (PubChem CID 6342, molecular formula C₂H₃N, molecular weight 41.05 g/mol) is stocked in both ACS and HPLC/gradient grades — chemically the same molecule, but only the HPLC grade is certified for low UV absorbance and column compatibility.

How do you read a Certificate of Analysis?

The Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is the proof behind the grade. Check four things: the assay (actual measured purity for that lot), the individual impurity limits (water content, trace metals, UV absorbance for HPLC grades), the lot/batch number so you can trace the material, and the specification standard it was tested against. If a grade is critical to your process, ask for the CoA before the material ships, not after.

What grades does RightPath stock?

RightPath Industries carries analytical solvents and reagents across ACS, reagent, HPLC/gradient, LC-MS, and USP grades, sourced from qualified manufacturers with lot-traceable Certificates of Analysis. Browse the full high purity analytical solvents category for grade options on acetonitrile, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, dichloromethane, hexanes, and more. Verified physical and identity data for every chemical can be cross-checked on PubChem.

How to order the right grade from RightPath

Tell us the application (for example, “gradient HPLC” or “pharma manufacturing”) and we will confirm the correct grade, pack size, and lead time. We supply from bottles to pails, drums, and IBC totes with documentation to match. Request bulk pricing and include your grade requirement so we can quote the exact specification you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is reagent grade the same as ACS grade?

Yes, in almost all cases. “Reagent grade” means the chemical meets American Chemical Society reagent specifications, so it is effectively synonymous with ACS grade for analytical use.

Can I use ACS grade solvent for HPLC?

Not reliably. ACS specifications do not control UV absorbance or filtration, so an ACS solvent can create baseline noise or clog a column. Use HPLC or LC-MS grade for chromatography.

What is the highest purity chemical grade?

For most laboratory work, HPLC/LC-MS and ACS grades are the highest general standards. Specialized ultra-high-purity grades (semiconductor/electronic grade, 99.999%) exist for specific industries but are not needed for routine analysis.

Does a higher grade always cost more?

Generally yes, because tighter impurity limits require more purification and testing. Match the grade to the application — paying for HPLC grade to run a simple extraction wastes money, while using technical grade in an analytical method risks your results.

How do I verify the grade I received?

Check the Certificate of Analysis that ships with the lot against your purchase order. It lists the measured assay, impurity limits, batch number, and the specification the material was tested against.