The improper storage or mixing of chemicals can result in
serious accidents and even disasters. Violent reactions could occur due to the
storing or mixing incompatible chemicals. The following is a list of some
incompatible common laboratory chemicals. Before storing or mixing any
chemicals, consult this list or the chemicals’ MSDS. This is only a
partial list that includes some of the more common academic laboratory
chemicals.
|
Chemical |
Incompatible with |
|
Acetic acid |
Chromic acid, nitric acid, hydroxyl compounds, ethylene glycol, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanganates |
|
Acetylene |
Chlorine, bromine, copper, fluorine, silver, mercury |
|
Acetone |
Concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid mixtures |
|
Alkali and alkaline earth metals |
Water, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, halogens |
|
Ammonia (anhydrous) |
Mercury(e.g., in manometers), chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous) |
|
Ammonium nitrate |
Acids, powered metals, flammable liquids, chlorates, nitrites, sulfur, finely divided organic combustible materials |
|
Aniline |
Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide |
|
Arsenical materials |
Any reducing agent |
|
Azides |
Acids |
|
Bromine |
See chlorine |
|
Calcium oxide |
Water |
|
Carbon (activated) |
Calcium hypochlorite, all oxidizing agents |
|
Chlorates |
Ammonium salts, acids, powered metals, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials |
|
Chromic acid and chromium trioxide |
Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, glycerol. Alcohol, flammable liquids in general |
|
Chlorine |
Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane (or other petroleum gases), hydrogen, sodium carbide, benzene, finely divided metals, turpentine |
|
Chlorine dioxide |
Ammonia, methane, phosphine, hydrogen sulfide |
|
Copper |
Acetylene, hydrogen peroxide |
|
Cumene hydroperoxide |
Acids (organic and inorganic) |
|
Cyanides |
acids |
|
Flammable liquids |
Ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens |
|
Fluorine |
All other chemicals |
|
Hydrocarbons (such as butane, propane, benzene) |
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, chromic acid, sodium peroxide |
|
Hydrocyanic acid |
Nitric acid, alkali |
|
Hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous) |
Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous) |
|
Hydrogen sulfide |
Fuming nitric acid, oxidizing gases |
|
Hypochlorites |
Acids, activated carbon |
|
Iodine |
Acetylene, ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous), hydrogen |
|
Mercury |
Acetylene, fulminic acid, ammonia |
|
nitrates |
Acids |
|
Nitric acid (concentrated) |
Acetic acid, aniline, chromic acid, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide, flammable liquids and gases, copper, brass, any heavy metals |
|
Nitrites |
Acids |
|
Nitroparaffins |
Inorganic bases, amines |
|
Oxalic acid |
Silver, mercury |
|
Oxygen |
Oils, grease, hydrogen, flammable liquids, solids, and gases |
|
Perchloric acid |
Acetic acid, anhydride, bismuth and its alloys, alcohols, paper, wood, grease, oils |
|
Peroxides, organic |
Acids (organic or mineral), avoid friction, store cold |
|
Phosphorus (white) |
Air, oxygen, alkalies, reducing agents |
|
Potassium chlorate |
Sulfuric and other acids |
|
Potassium perchlorate (see also chlorates) |
Sulfuric and other acids |
|
Potassium permanganate |
Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid |
|
Selenides |
Reducing agents |
|
silver |
Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, ammonium compounds, fulminic acid |
|
sodium |
Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water |
|
Sodium nitrite |
Ammonium nitrate and other ammonium salts |
|
Sodium peroxide |
Ethyl and methyl alcohol, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzaldehyde, carbon disulfide, glycerin, ethylene glycol, ethylacetate, methyl acetate, furfural |
|
Sulfides |
Acids |
|
Sulfuric acid |
Potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate (similar compounds of light metal, such as sodium, lithium) |
|
Tellurides |
Reducing agents |
Reference: Safety in academic chemistry laboratories, The
American Chemical Society, 1995.