Chemicals for use in industry, and other general applications, are in Class 1. If a particular use is indicated, however, some chemicals can belong to other classes. For example, hydrogen peroxide for industrial purposes is in Class 1, hydrogen peroxide for cosmetic purposes is in Cl. 3 and hydrogen peroxide for medical purposes is in Cl. 5.
According to the Explanatory Note, Class 1 includes mainly "chemical products for use in industry, science and agriculture, including those which go to the making of products belonging to other classes". The term "chemical products" in this instance refers to synthetic as well as natural products. This justifies the inclusion in Class 1 of synthetic products, such as artificial resins, and of natural products or raw materials, such as raw salt, protein, albumin and lactose. However, certain natural materials in their raw state are not in Class 1, either because of their function or because they are closely associated with goods belonging to other classes, for example, natural resins in Cl. 2, wax and petroleum in Cl. 4, rubber in Cl. 17, and chalk in Cl. 19.
Many goods in this class are used for manufacturing products that belong to other classes. For example, unprocessed artificial resins, usually in the form of viscous liquids, are in Class 1. When artificial resins are manufactured into semi-finished products, for example, in the form of rods or sheets, they are no longer in Class 1 but in Cl. 17. Further manufacture turns these semi-processed resins into finished goods that are in other classes, such as Cl. 20.
Class 1 also includes certain adhesives, specifically those for use in industry, as well as specialized adhesives, such as adhesives for wall tiles or wallpaper. Adhesives can also belong to other classes, for example, adhesives for cosmetic purposes in Cl. 3, adhesives for dentures in Cl. 5 and adhesives for stationery purposes in Cl. 16.
Similarly, putties and other paste fillers like glaziers' putty and oil cement also belong to Class 1. There are, however, some exceptions such as caulking putty in Cl. 17 and toy putty in Cl. 28.
It should be noted that compost, manure and other products for enhancing plant growth, such as fertilizers, are in Class 1, while pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are in Cl. 5 because their primary function is to kill pests and weeds, even though this may ultimately encourage plant growth.
Finally, biological preparations belong to Class 1 when they are for use in science and industry but are in Cl. 5 when for medical or veterinary purposes.