INCOMPATIBILITY OF COMMON LABORATORY CHEMICALS
When certain hazardous chemicals are stored or mixed together, violent reactions may occur because the chemicals are unsuitable for mixing, or are incompatible. Classes of incompatible chemicals should be segregated from each other during storage, according to hazard class. Use the following general guidelines for hazard class storage:
• Flammable/Combustible Liquids and Organic Acids • Flammable Solids • Mineral Acids • Caustics • Oxidizers • Perchloric Acid • Compressed Gases
Before mixing any chemicals, refer to this partial list, the chemicals' MSDS's or call OLSC at 4-3282 to verify compatibility: CHEMICAL INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICAL(S)
aldehyde, bases, carbonates, hydroxides, metals, oxidizers, peroxides, Acetic acid phosphates, xylene
Acetylene halogens (chlorine, fluorine, etc.), mercury, potassium, oxidizers, silver
Acetone acids, amines, oxidizers, plastics
acids, chromium, ethylene, halogens, hydrogen, mercury, earth nitrogen, Alkali and alkaline metals oxidizers, plastics, sodium chloride, sulfur
Ammonia acids, aldehydes, amides, halogens, heavy metals, oxidizers, plastics, sulfur
acids, alkalis, chloride salts, combustible materials, metals, organic materials, Ammonium nitrate phosphorous, reducing agents, urea
Aniline acids, aluminum, dibenzoyl peroxide, oxidizers, plastics
Azides acids, heavy metals, oxidizers
acetaldehyde, alcohols, alkalis, amines, combustible materials, ethylene, Bromine fluorine, hydrogen, ketones (acetone, carbonyls, etc.), metals, sulfur
Calcium oxide acids, ethanol, fluorine, organic materials
Carbon (activated) alkali metals, calcium hypochlorite, halogens, oxidizers
Carbon tetrachloride benzoyl peroxide, ethylene, fluorine, metals, oxygen, plastics, silanes
Chlorates powdered metals, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials
Chromic acid acetone, alcohols, alkalis, ammonia, bases
benzene, combustible materials, hydrocarbons, metals, organic materials, Chromium trioxide phosphorous, plastics
alcohol's, ammonia, benzene, combustible materials, flammable compounds Chlorine (hydrazine), hydrocarbons (acetylene, ethylene, etc.), hydrogen peroxide, iodine, metals, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium hydroxide
hydrogen, mercury, organic materials, phosphorous, potassium hydroxide, Chlorine dioxide sulfur
Copper calcium, hydrocarbons, oxidizers
Hydroperoxide reducing agents
Cyanides acids, alkaloids, aluminum, iodine, oxidizers, strong bases
ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium Flammable liquids peroxide, halogens
alcohol's, aldehydes, ammonia, combustible materials, halocarbons, Fluorine halogens, hydrocarbons, ketones, metals, organic acids
Hydrocarbons (Such as butane, acids, bases, oxidizers, plastics propane benzene, turpentine, etc.)
Hydrofluoric acid metals, organic materials, plastics, silica (glass), (anhydrous) sodium
acetylaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, alcohol's carboxylic acid, combustible Hydrogen peroxide materials, metals, nitric acid, organic compounds, phosphorous, sulfuric acid, sodium, aniline
Hydrogen sulfide acetylaldehyde, metals, oxidizers, sodium
Hypochlorites acids, activated carbon
Iodine acetylaldehyde, acetylene, ammonia, metals, sodium
acetylene, aluminum, amines, ammonia, calcium, fulminic acid, lithium, Mercury oxidizers, sodium
Nitrates acids, nitrites, metals, sulfur, sulfuric acid
acetic acid, acetonitrile, alcohol's, amines, (concentrated) ammonia, aniline, Nitric acid bases, benzene, cumene, formic acid, ketones, metals, organic materials, plastics, sodium, toluene
Oxalic acid oxidizers, silver, sodium chlorite
acetaldehyde, secondary alcohol's, alkalis and alkalines, ammonia, carbon Oxygen monoxide, combustible materials, ethers, flammable materials, hydrocarbons, metals, phosphorous, polymers
acetic acid, alcohols, aniline, combustible materials, dehydrating agents, Perchloric acid ethyl benzene, hydriotic acid, hydrochloric acid, iodides, ketones, organic material, oxidizers, pyridine
Peroxides, organic acids (organic or mineral)
Phosphorus (white) oxygen (pure and in air), alkalis
acetylene, acids, alcohols, halogens, hydrazine, mercury, oxidizers, selenium, Potassium sulfur
acids, ammonia, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrocarbons, metals, Potassium chlorate organic materials, sugars
Potassium perchlorate (also see alcohols, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrazine, metals, organic matter, chlorates) reducing agents, sulfuric acid
Potassium permanganate benzaldehyde, ethylene glycol, glycerol, sulfuric acid
Silver acetylene, ammonia, oxidizers, ozonides, peroxyformic acid
Sodium acids, hydrazine, metals, oxidizers, water
acetic anhydride, acids, metals, organic matter, peroxyformic acid, reducing Sodium nitrate agents
acetic acid, benzene, hydrogen sulfide metals, oxidizers, peroxyformic acid, Sodium peroxide phosphorous, reducers, sugars, water
Sulfides acids
Sulfuric acid potassium chlorates, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate
Basic Chemical Segregation
CLASS OF RECOMMENDED STORAGE EXAMPLES INCOMPATIBILITIES CHEMICALS METHOD SEE MSDS IN ALL CASES Store in a cool, dry area, Compressed away from oxidizing Oxidizing and toxic Gases- gases. Securely strap or Methane, acetylene, propane compressed gases, Flammable chain cylinders to a wall oxidizing solids. or bench top. Store in a cool, dry area, away from flammable Compressed gases and liquids. Gases- Oxygen, chlorine, bromine Flammable gases. Securely strap or chain Oxidizing cylinders to a wall or bench. Store in a cool, dry area, away from flammable Compressed gases and liquids. Flammable and/or Gases- Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) Securely strap or chain oxidizing gases. Poisonous cylinders to a wall or bench. Mineral acids - Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric Flammable liquids, Corrosives - Store in separate acid acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid, chromic flammable solids, bases, Acids storage cabinet. acid, chromerge oxidizers. Flammable liquids, Corrosives - Store in separate storage Ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide oxidizers, poisons, and Bases cabinet. acids. Ammonium nitrate, Nitro Urea, Picric Acid (in dry state), Trinitroaniline, Shock Store in secure location Trinitroanisole, Trinitrobenzene, Flammable liquids, Sensitive away from all other Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, oxidizers, poisons, Materials chemicals. Trinitrobenzoic acid, Trinitrochlorobenzene, acids, and bases. Trinitrophenol/Picric acid, trinitrotoluene, Urea Nitrate, Zirconium picramate Flammable In grounded flammable Acetone, benzene, diethyl ether, methanol, Acids, bases, oxidizers, Liquids storage cabinet. ethanol, toluene, glacial acetic acid and poisons. Store in a separate dry, Flammable cool area away from Acids, bases, oxidizers, Phosphorus Solids oxidizers, corrosives, and poisons. flammable liquids. Store on general General laboratory benches or Agar, sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, Chemicals See MSDS shelving preferably and most non-reactive salts Non-reactive behind glass doors, or below eye level. Sodium hypochlorite, benzoyl peroxide, Store in a spill tray inside potassium permanganate, potassium a noncombustible Separate from reducing chlorate, potassium dichromate. The Oxidizers cabinet, separate from agents, flammables and following are generally considered oxidizing flammable and combustibles. substances: peroxides, perchlorates, combustible materials. chlorates, nitrates, bromates, superoxides Store separately in vented, cool, dry, area, in Flammable liquids, Cyanides, heavy metals compounds, i.e. Poisons unbreakable chemically acids, bases, and cadmium, mercury, osmium resistant secondary oxidizers. containers. Water Store in dry, cool, Separate from all Sodium metal, potassium metal, lithium Reactive location, protect from aqueous solutions, and metal, lithium aluminum hydride Chemicals water fire sprinkler. oxidizers.