Chemical Compatibility
Hazardous chemical reactions can occur from a variety of reasons including improper storage, incompatible chemicals mix because of accidental breakage, container failure, natural disasters, mixing of vapors from poorly closed containers, incompatibles being mixed by to failure to segregate chemicals when not properly labeled. Store chemical groups below separately from one another, either in separate cabinets or in appropriate tubs or secondary containers. Do not store your entire chemical inventory together in alphabetical order. Please separate incompatible classes of chemicals
This is not a comprehensive list of compatibility. Please refer any applicable SDS before working with any materials. Reach out to the CBC Safety office or EHS if you have any questions.
Selected Hazard Groups
Examples: alcohols, acetone, acetaldehyde, acetonitrile, benzene, cyclohexane, dioxane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, hexane, toluene.
- Flammable liquids are incompatible with ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens
Examples: Oxygen, nitrogen, Argon, hydrogen, and acetylene
- Secure gas cylinders properly
- Segregate oxygen from flammable gases
- Store acutely toxic and toxic gases in gas cabinets or fume hoods
- Segregate from chemicals that could generate toxic or flammable gases upon contact (cyanide salts, metal sulfides, calcium carbide) and reactive metals (sodium, potassium, magnesium), flammables, Nitrates, and reactive sulfides.
- Store in non-corrosive secondary container, if possible.
- Avoid contact with bases!!
Mineral Acids
Oxidizing Mineral Acids
Examples: Sulfuric, nitric, chromic, perchloric
- Store separately from organic acids
- Highly reactive with most compounds
- Store Nitric acid in its own non-corrosive secondary container
- Store perchloric acid in its own non-corrosive secondary container. Isolate perchloric acid from acetic acid , acetic anhydride, bismuth and bismuth alloys, alcohol, ketones, other organic materials, oxidizers, and pyridine, paper, wood, ether, grease, and sulfuric acid.
Non-oxidizing Mineral Acids
Examples: Hydrochloric, Hydrofluoric, phosphoric, hydroiodic
- Hydrofluoric is very hazardous. Store HF in its own non-corrosive secondary container. Make sure the lab has Calcium gluconate on hand for skin exposures.
Organic acids
Examples: Acetic, butyric, formic, propionic
- Store separately from oxidizing mineral acids
- Make sure to keep Acetic acid away from perchloric acid
Examples: Sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, glutaraldehyde
- Store in tubs in a normal cabinet
- Avoid contact with acids
Examples: hydrogen peroxide, ammonium persulfate
- Oxidizing liquids react with nearly everything. Double contain
Examples: Sodium Borohydride, calcium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride
- Most metal hydrides reactive violently with water
- Make sure a Type D Fire extinguisher is available.
- Store in a waterproof double container in a cabinet
Common Incompatible Chemicals
GHS information on Pictograms, Hazard Statements, and Precautionary Statements