The term “incompatible chemicals” refers to chemicals that can react with each other
Good laboratory safety practice requires that incompatible chemicals be stored, transported, and disposed of in ways that will prevent their coming together in the event of an accident. Tables 1 and 2 give some basic guidelines for the safe handling of acids, bases, reactive metals, and other chemicals. Neither of these tables is exhaustive, and additional information on incompatible chemicals can be found in the following references.
A | B |
Acids | Bases, reactive metals |
Oxidizing agentsa | Reducing agentsa |
Chlorates | Ammonia, anhydrous and aqueous |
Chromates | Carbon |
Chromium trioxide | Metals |
Dichromates | Metal hydrides |
Halogens | Nitrites |
Halogenating agents | Organic compounds |
Hydrogen peroxide | Phosphorus |
Nitric acid | Silicon |
Nitrates | Sulfur |
Perchlorates | |
Peroxides | |
Permanganates | |
Persulfates |
|
Chemical | Is incompatible with |
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Acetic acid | Chromic acid, nitric acid, hydroxyl compounds, ethylene glycol, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanaganates |
Acetylene | Chlorine, bromine, copper, fluorine, silver, mercury |
Acetone | Concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid mixtures |
Alkali and alkaline earth metals (such as powdered aluminum or magnesium, calcium, lithium, sodium, potassium) | Water, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, halogens |
Ammonia (anhydrous) | Mercury (in manometers, for example), chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous) |
Ammonium nitrate | Acids, powdered metals, flammable liquids, chlorates, nitrites, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials |
Aniline | Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide |
Arsenical materials | Any reducing agent |
Azides | Acids |
Bromine | Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane (or other petroleum gases), hydrogen, sodium carbide, benzene, finely divided metals, turpentine |
Calcium oxide | Water |
Carbon (activated) | Calcium hypochlorite, all oxidizing agents |
Carbon tetrachloride | Sodium |
Chlorates | Ammonium salts, acids, powdered metals, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials |
Chromic acid and chromium troixide | 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 or inorganic) |