1-Androstenedione finds itself in a small club of synthetic androgens used both in research and sometimes by athletes looking for edge and mass. The chemical, shaped by the formula C19H26O2, shows a structure close to other familiar names in steroid chemistry, but swaps a double bond to the 1,2 position on the A-ring. This small twist in the molecule can bring noticeable shifts in effect, solubility, and how the body handles it compared to older androgens like testosterone or 4-androstenedione. For raw materials suppliers, this shift is a major point, since what’s inside the barrel shapes not just athletic dreams, but how safe or prickly a substance becomes in regular handling.
1-Androstenedione almost always comes as a solid, usually in a fine crystalline powder, sometimes looking like off-white flakes under the right light. This is no sugar-bowl powder—it forms something dense, packing a solid punch of around 1.13 g/cm³. Hold it up to the light and you won’t see anything fancy—no sparkle, no deep shine. People handling it don’t mistake it for sugar or common materials; broken apart, the solid feels dry, gritty between thumb and finger, not slippery, and absolutely not something you’d want to breathe in. The molecular weight clocks in at 286.41 grams per mole, which means chemists can calculate doses or mix compounds with accuracy (and anyone wanting to check purity has one less excuse for sloppy work).
In a jar, the stuff usually looks like fine, pale powder—sometimes with a slightly yellow tint, other times nearly pure white. Scoop out a sample, and each grain seems to stick together a little, with subtle scent but not much else. Unlike table salt or some cheaper fillers, 1-Androstenedione resists clumping unless exposed to way too much moisture. Manufacturers avoid converting it to pearls or large granules, since most customers want the raw, fine powder for lab use or mixing in controlled athletic supplement facilities. In temperature-controlled spaces, the powder remains stable, not melting down into liquid form until it runs past 138-140°C—a level that doesn’t happen under ordinary handling or storage.
Now, for trade and customs, no one moves this chemical without paperwork. Its recognized CAS Number is 63-05-8, and the HS Code appears as 2937.29.9090 for global logistics, letting border agencies track shipments and flag anything that drifts outside ordinary legal or pharmaceutical use. Once you see this code, you know the rules tighten up, because steroids touch controlled substance lists in almost every country outside of special research licenses. This makes honest sourcing, proper shipment, and detailed labeling a survival game for suppliers, not just business routine.
Handling 1-Androstenedione isn’t like pouring vinegar—this stuff can irritate lungs, eyes, and skin, so gloves and masks aren’t optional decorations. A little powder in the air, and you’ll start sneezing or rubbing your eyes. Chronic exposure comes with a poison pill for the body: steroids like this disrupt hormones, hit the liver, and, if misused, boost heart risks and other problems. Chemical manufacturers list it as harmful, especially for reproductive systems and unborn kids. Shipping containers come stamped with hazard warnings—avoid eating, drinking, or touching your face anywhere near open containers. In big spills, ventilation and full-body suits go from silly costume to hard requirement. If you’ve ever spent a day working a warehouse or compounding center, the smell of the solvent and that dry, dense dust sticks in your memory—a reminder that safe handling rules aren’t just pointy-clicky suggestions.
Chemists and supplement makers often seek out 1-Androstenedione not for direct “as is” consumption, but as raw material for reactions, with pathways aimed at newer anabolic compounds. This isn’t aspirin; every step demands knowledge—and the fines for sidestepping rules or contaminating batches can bankrupt a small business. Precise purity and identity testing come standard, from melting point checks to chromatographic fingerprints against known samples. I’ve seen labs toss whole shipments that didn’t match spectra—a costly but essential practice to keep hazardous impurities from sliding into the production line. Once locked into the process, little margin exists for mistakes, since trace contaminants may flip the final product from legal to criminal overnight.
Move 1-Androstenedione around, and containers must seal tight—any humidity will clump the powder, and direct sunlight erodes the crystal structure. Nobody stores this in open jars on shelves. Opaque, airtight buckets lined with desiccant packs keep the powder dry, cool, and away from accidental hands. The ideal temperature stays at room level, away from sources of ignition (it won’t go up in flames like gasoline, but nobody wants to test the limits with something that can irritate the lungs and eyes in a flash). Chemical waste rules kick in if there’s ever a spill or expired inventory, since dumping down the drain means environmental authorities get called—and fines follow.
Those who work with 1-Androstenedione don’t get luxury of cutting corners. Training matters. Proper labeling, careful stock rotation, sealed containers, and enforced PPE save not just licenses but personal health. Each delivery gets checked by lot, and tracking paperwork—dates, batch numbers, test certificates—come with every drum. Any research involving human or animal exposure faces a wall of regulation, not just out of legal paranoia but because preventative rules reflect years of real injuries and contamination scares across the supplement world. For anyone considering involvement with this compound, a close relationship with skilled chemical suppliers, regulatory experts, and experienced analytical chemists beats any bargain-bin shortcut or warehouse improvisation.
