Probably Stolen Chemical Supplies and Contaminants

Chemical supplies are the bottleneck of every chemistry run. You can own the best finisher on the station and still lose money if the acid, base, or water going into it is contaminated. This page covers the supplier packs, the difference between common and restricted inputs, and the contaminants you cannot remove.

For the machine chain, see the chemistry guide. For the recipes, see chemistry recipes.

The common supply pack

The common Chemical Supplies pack is the basic restock. It contains:

• 2 × Mini Alcohol
• Lipobond
• Acid
• Base

The pack's base value is 50 credits. It is sold by the Retired Chemist, scavengers, and the Thief. That makes it one of the easiest chemistry inputs to find, but “common” does not mean “clean.” Acid and base in the common pack can carry heavy-metal contamination.

The Mini Alcohol is a solvent, not a drinking item. Lipobond is a binder with a low evaporation point; keep it below 55°C or you lose it before it does its job.

The restricted supply pack

The restricted pack contains:

• 2 × precursor chemicals (N-Methylol and Stabilizing Agent)
• 1 × Reducing Agent

This is the input set for Phanta and other restricted recipes. It is not sold by the ordinary chemist. You need a black-market supplier, a faction contact, or a special stock rotation.

Restricted inputs are also evidence. If Security finds them in a search, they contribute to the suspected crime value. Store them separately from legal stock and do not leave them on the counter.

Why heavy metals matter

Acid and base can contain heavy metals. There is no vanilla filter, tablet, or pitcher that removes them. The only defence is to test the input before you use it and buy the cleanest batch available.

The Composition Spectrometer shows the contaminant profile. Use it on every new supplier batch, not just the first one. A supplier can change stock between visits, and a bottle with the same label can have a different profile.

The practical rule: if the acid or base is dirty, do not use it for a high-value batch. Save it for a cheap product or sell it to someone who does not test.

Water is a chemical input

Water is not inert. Its grade and contaminant profile affect the batch. The water grades run from Ghostwater and Basewater up to High-Quality and Pure. A recipe that needs clean water will not reach Lab Pure with a dirty bottle.

Use the water guide to test and purify water before it goes into the blender. A purification tablet only works in a container that already has water; it is not a machine cleaner.

Storage and spoilage

Chemical inputs need dark, stable storage. The Chemist Storage Bay is the dedicated container; a generic storage bay works but mixes chemicals with food and valuables, which is a role-play choice and a search risk.

Keep these separate:

• Legal water and food
• Common chemistry inputs
• Restricted precursors
• Finished pharmaceuticals

Finished products should be sold quickly. They occupy space, they are evidence, and their value does not increase while they sit.

Buying strategy

Do not stockpile restricted inputs before you have a reliable recipe and buyer. They tie up capital and raise your search risk.

Selling surplus

Surplus chemicals can be sold, but the buyer pool is narrow. The Retired Chemist and scavengers buy common supplies; black-market contacts buy restricted ones. A legal customer may refuse a restricted item outright.

If you are stuck with a contaminated batch, do not label it as clean. Selling it as a cleaning agent or a low-grade input is safer than passing it off as pharmaceutical-grade. The reputation hit from a bad sale is usually worse than the loss on the batch.

Contamination checklist

1. Test the acid/base with a spectrometer.
2. Test the water with a test strip and, if available, an Aquascan.
3. Clean the machine between batches.
4. Check the finisher modules.
5. Record the batch and the result.
6. If the purity is below the tier you need, do not sell it as the higher tier.

FAQ

Where do I buy chemical supplies in Probably Stolen? The Retired Chemist, scavengers, and the Thief sell the common pack. Restricted precursors come from black-market or faction sources.

Can I filter heavy metals out of acid? Not with vanilla filters or tablets. Test the input and avoid contaminated batches.

What is in the restricted pack? Two precursors (N-Methylol and Stabilizing Agent) and one Reducing Agent.

Is the common pack profitable? It can be, but only if the acid and base are clean enough for the recipe. The pack is an input, not a guaranteed profit.

Community source: in-game Chemical Supplies descriptions, community chemistry testing, and the Steam Community guide hub ↗. Store reference: Probably Stolen ↗. Workshop example: Pen's Pipette ↗.

Related

• Chemistry Guide
• Chemistry Recipes
• Items Database