A substance or mixture of substances, the composition of which is known within specified
limits, and one or more of the properties of which is sufficiently well established
to be used for the calibration of an apparatus, the assessment of a measuring method
or for assigning values to materials. Reference materials are available from national
laboratories in many countries [e.g. National Institute for Standards and Technology
(NIST), USA.; Community Bureau of Reference, UK].
Source:
PAC, 1990, 62, 2167
(Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990))
on page 2210