Appendix B: 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 of
Before mixing any chemicals, refer to this partial list, the chemicals' MSDS's, or call the GSO to verify compatibility:
- Flammable/Combustible Liquids and Organic Acids
- Flammable Solids
- Mineral Acids
- Caustics
- Oxidizers
- Perchloric Acid
- Compressed Gases
Chemical Incompatible Chemical(s) Acetic acid aldehyde, bases, carbonates, hydroxides, metals, oxidizers, peroxides, phosphates, xylene Acetylene halogens (chlorine, fluorine, etc.), mercury, potassium, oxidizers, silver Acetone acids, amines, oxidizers, plastics Alkali and alkaline metals acids, chromium, ethylene, halogens, hydrogen, mercury, earth nitrogen, oxidizers, plastics, sodium chloride, sulfur Ammonia acids, aldehydes, amides, halogens, heavy metals, oxidizers, plastics, sulfur Ammonium nitrate acids, alkalis, chloride salts, combustible materials, metals, organic materials, phosphorous, reducing agents, urea Aniline acids, aluminum, dibenzoyl peroxide, oxidizers, plastics Azides acids, heavy metals, oxidizers Bromine acetaldehyde, alcohols, alkalis, amines, combustible materials, ethylene, 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
Chromium trioxideacetone, alcohols, alkalis, ammonia, bases benzene, combustible materials, hydrocarbons, metals, organic materials, phosphorous, plastics Chlorine alcohol's, ammonia, benzene, combustible materials, flammable compounds (hydrazine), hydrocarbons (acetylene, ethylene, etc.), hydrogen peroxide, iodine, metals, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium hydroxide Chlorine dioxide hydrogen, mercury, organic materials, phosphorous, potassium hydroxide, sulfur Copper, Hydroperoxide Cyanides calcium, hydrocarbons, oxidizers reducing agents acids, alkaloids, aluminum, iodine, oxidizers, strong bases Flammable liquids ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens Fluorine alcohol's, aldehydes, ammonia, combustible materials, halocarbons, halogens, hydrocarbons, ketones, metals, organic acids Hydrocarbons (Such as turpentine, etc.) butane, propane benzene, acids, bases, oxidizers, plastics Hydrofluoric acid metals, organic materials, plastics, silica (glass), (anhydrous) sodium Hydrogen peroxide acetylaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, alcohol's carboxylic acid, combustible materials, metals, nitric acid, organic compounds, phosphorous, sulfuric acid, sodium, aniline Hydrogen sulfide
Hypochlorites Iodineacetylaldehyde, metals, oxidizers, sodiumacids, activated carbon acetylaldehyde, acetylene, ammonia, metals, sodium Mercury acetylene, aluminum, amines, ammonia, calcium, fulminic acid, lithium, oxidizers, sodium Nitrates acids, nitrites, metals, sulfur, sulfuric acid Nitric acid acetic acid, acetonitrile, alcohol's, amines, (concentrated) ammonia, aniline, bases, benzene, cumene, formic acid, ketones, metals, organic materials, plastics, sodium, toluene Oxalic acid
Oxygenoxidizers, silver, sodium chlorite acetaldehyde, secondary alcohol's, alkalis and alkalines, ammonia, carbon monoxide, combustible materials, ethers, flammable materials, hydrocarbons, metals, phosphorous, polymers Perchloric acid acetic acid, alcohols, aniline, combustible materials, dehydrating agents, ethyl benzene, hydriotic acid, hydrochloric acid, iodides, ketones, organic material, oxidizers, pyridine Peroxides, organic Phosphorus (white) Potassium acids (organic or mineral) oxygen (pure and in air), alkalis acetylene, acids, alcohols, halogens, hydrazine, mercury, oxidizers, selenium, sulfur Potassium chlorate acids, ammonia, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrocarbons, metals, organic materials, sugars Potassium perchlorate (also see chlorates) alcohols, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrazine, metals, organic matter, 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 Sodium nitrate acetic anhydride, acids, metals, organic matter, peroxyformic acid, reducing agents Sodium peroxide acetic acid, benzene, hydrogen sulfide metals, oxidizers, peroxyformic acid, phosphorous, reducers, sugars, water Sulfides acids Sulfuric acid potassium chlorates, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate References:
- Material Safety Data Sheets, various chemical companies