Chemistry Stores

We have over 2,000 different stock items which are available for immediate purchase. Our inventory includes liquid nitrogen, dry ice, chemicals, solvents, enzymes, media, glassware, lab supplies and equipment, compressed gas cylinders, and convenience items. These items can be purchased and carried out of the storeroom or delivered to you. If you would like access to our online catalog and ordering system please contact Mikayla Showers at 515-294-0200 or showersm@iastate.edu

Chemicals, gases, and equipment not in stock can be special-ordered from a wide variety of vendors. In most cases we get special pricing from our vendors and pass that savings on to the customer. Place these orders with the Chemistry Stores business office in 1351 Gilman (515-294-0200) or by filling out the Chemistry Stores Special Order Request form.

Chemistry Stores supplies the entire university with industrial gases, high-purity gases, and specialty gas mixtures. We keep industrial-grade acetylene, air, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, argon/CO2, and O2/CO2 gases in stock. These are available from the storeroom in 1400 Gilman during normal business hours. Regulators and related equipment are also available for purchase.

Due to gas cylinder safety laws, all of the Chemistry Stores-owned gas cylinders must be inspected at least every five years. We reserve the right to recall any cylinder that has been checked out to a customer for over five years with no refund for unused gas. Customers who refuse to return the cylinder in a timely manner or can not find the cylinder will be charged a lost cylinder fee at the current replacement rate.

High purity gases and special gas mixtures can be ordered through the Chemistry Stores business office in 1351 Gilman (515-294-0200). To reduce processing time, please provide us with as much information as possible including gas purity, cylinder size, and vendor catalog number if available as well as work tag number.

Charges for gas cylinders include a one-time fee for the gas plus a daily demurrage fee for the rental of the cylinder.

To return a cylinder to Chemistry Stores, place the cylinder on your dock with the manilla hang tag torn off to read "Empty" and we will pick it up the next time deliveries are made to that dock. To set up a pick-up on a specific date, contact the Chemistry Stores at 515-294-0203. Please note that cylinders that do not say "Empty" or "return to Chem Stores" will not be picked up. Also, all cylinders must have the metal cylinder cap attached or they will not be picked up. If you have lost a cylinder cap, contact us and we will provide a replacement cap for a fee.

Purchasing Stock Items

1. Visit the sales counter in 1400 Gilman and place your order in person. One of our storekeepers will be happy to take your order, make recommendations if you have any questions, and fill your order while you wait.  Please have WorkTag information and proper approval from your department.
2. Place an order by going to our web page:  https://order.chem.iastate.edu/home  Customers will have access to our online system and can browse our catalog online and place orders for pick-up or delivery. Contact us at 515-294-0200 or  showersm@iastate.edu if you have any questions. 

3.  When filling dewars;

   Cut off times for dewars to be filled same day:

   Large dewars (greater than 30L), need to be brought to the store by 2:30pm

   Small dewars (less than 30L) by 3:30pm

Restrictions

1. To take EH&S Training for Tax-Free Ethanol   
2. Purchases of liquid nitrogen, dry ice, and bulk solvents require the customer to provide a suitable container for dispensing. If you do not have a suitable container you may purchase one from Chemistry Stores when available.
3. Chemicals, gases, and needles may only be purchased by graduate students and faculty.

Placing Special Orders

1. Place an order from our online catalog (add link). Customers who have signed up for access to our online system can place orders for non-stock items using the special order function. We will contact you when the item arrives and is ready to be picked up in 1400 Gilman. Contact Mikayla Showers at 515-294-0200 or showersm@iastate.edu if you would like to have access to our online system.
2. Visit the Chemistry Stores office in 1351 Gilman. The sales staff can help you search for a specific item and make recommendations based on our hundreds of vendors if you have any questions. You will be asked to fill out a sales requisition form so please have WorkTag information and proper approval from your department. We will contact you when the item is ready to be picked up in 1400 Gilman.

Stock Items

Chemistry Stores provides next day delivery for in-stock items. Orders placed before 2 p.m. can be delivered the next day. Deliveries are made to your building dock unless a special request is made.

Special Order Gases

Specialty gases normally are delivered from our vendors on Mondays and delivered to the customer the next day. Please note that many specialty gases and gas mixtures may take several weeks for production. We will contact you and deliver your gas as soon as we receive it. If you have any questions concerning the delivery date of your specialty gas, please call the Chemistry Stores office at 515-294-0200.

Other Special Orders

Special orders other than gases are held in 1400 Gilman for customer pick-up. We will contact you when your item arrives and is ready for pick-up. Special arrangements can be made for delivery by contacting the Chemistry Stores office at 515-294-0200 or showersm@iastate.edu

Delivery Fees

1. We offer FREE delivery to any building dock on campus including to the Vet Med/VMRI complex.
2. Deliveries to a specific room in a building can be made upon request. A nominal delivery fee will be assessed. If you have questions concerning current room delivery fees, please contact the Chemistry Stores storeroom at 515-294-0203.
3. Out-of-town deliveries are made upon request and should be coordinated with Central Stores. A delivery fee will be assessed based on time and mileage. Contact the Chemistry Stores storeroom at 515-294-0203 with questions.

Stock Items

All charges are posted to your account the business day after your in-store purchase or the fulfillment of your order. If you have any billing questions, please contact Mikayla Showers, 515-294-0200, showersm@iastate.edu.

Special Orders

Chemistry Stores bills customers for their special orders as they arrive from the vendor. This may mean multiple charges as some orders arrive piece by piece. If you have any billing questions, please contact Mikayla Showers, 515-294-0200, showersm@iastate.edu

Gas Cylinder Rental / Demurrage

Rental fees for our stock gases and for our special order gases are charged a daily rate from the day the cylinder is delivered to the customer to the day it is returned to the Chemistry Stores dock. Once per month, the worktag given at the time of purchase will be charged the accrued rental fees for all outstanding cylinders. At any time you have questions, feel free to contact Mikayla Showers, 515-294-0200, showersm@iastate.edu

• Solvents packaged in glass bottles may only be carried out of storeroom in a safety carrier, the original packaging it was shipped in, or other suitable container. If you do not have a suitable safety carrier you must purchase one before we can let you walk out with the solvent.
• Gas cylinders can only be transported using approved methods. Cylinder carts must have adequate straps or chains to ensure safety. If you are transporting cylinders in a vehicle, you are responsible for knowing the proper safety procedures. Chemistry Stores will not be responsible if you improperly transport cylinders.
• Consult the EH&S Gas Cylinder Guidelines
• Gas cylinder leaks should be reported immediately to EH&S or to DPS after business hours. The proper procedure is outlined on the EH&S website
• Additional information related to chemical usage and handling, please contact EH&S, (515) 294-5359 or Ames Laboratory ESH&A, (515) 294-2153 Visit the EH&S website.