Appendix C

Laboratory Chemical Safety

Supplemental Information
Page 16
e.) Incompatible Storage Chart
The following chart lists some specific guidelines for the storage of hazardous
chemical substances. The chart information is combined from various sources
which can be obtained by contacting the EH&S, 335-3041.

INCOMPATIBLE STORAGE CHART

Chemical

Is Incompatible With

Acetic Acid

Chromic acid, nitric acid, hydroxyl compounds, ethylene

glycol, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanganates

Acetylene

Chlorine, bromine, copper, fluorine, silver, mercury

Acids; mineral, nonoxidizing

(hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, sulfuric)

Water, bases, ethylene, strong oxidizers

Acids; mineral, oxidizing

[nitric,perchloric, chromic (Chromium trioxide)]

(STORE IN GLASS OR OTHER INERT BOTTLES)

(DO NOT USE CORKS OR RUBBER STOPPERS)
Bases, organics, combustibles

Acids; organic
(Acetic, benzoic, caprylic, chloracetic, formic,fumaric, maleic,
oxalic, phthalic, propionic)

Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, peroxides, chromic acid,

acetaldehyde, ethylenediamine, hydroxides, water,
permanganates, hypochlorites

Alkali and Alkaline Earth metals

(such as powdered aluminum or magnesium, calcium, lithium,
sodium, potassium)

Water, oxidizers, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated

hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, halogens

Alcohols, Glycols
(Allyl alcohol, methanol, ethanol, butanol, pentanol, 2chloroethanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol)

Water and sulfuric acid mixture, hypochlorites, isocyanates,

acetaldehyde, ethanolamine, oxidizers

Aldehydes
(Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde)
Ammonia, anhydrous

Strong acids, strong bases, strong oxidizers, phenols, urea

Mercury (in manometers, for example), chlorine, calcium,
hypochlorite, iodine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid, oxidizers

Ammonia nitrate

Acids, metal powders, flammable liquids, chlorates,

nitrates, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible
materials, reducing agents

Amides
(Formamide, dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)

Strong oxidizers, halogenated compounds, esp. CCl4

Amines
(Pyridine, benzylamine, naphthylamine, aniline)

Acetic acid, acetic anhydride, chlorosulfonic acid, nitric

acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acrolein, acrylonitrile,
hydrofluoric acid, vinyl acetate, oxidizers in general

Appendix C
Laboratory Chemical Safety
Supplemental Information
Page 17

INCOMPATIBLE STORAGE CHART

Chemical

Is Incompatible With

Aninline

Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, other oxidizers

Azo compounds, Diazo compounds, and Hydrazine

(Hydrazine, diazomethane, diazoaminobenzene, azobenzene)

Hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, porous materials, oxidizers,

strong acids,metal oxides

Bromine

Same as for chlorine

Carbon, activated

Calcium hypochlorite, all oxidizing agents

Caustics
(Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide,
ammonia, barium oxide, calcium oxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium
carbonate)
Chlorates

Acid, water, acetic anhydride, acetaldehyde, acrolein,

acrylonitrile, propane, tetrahydrofuran, trichloroethylene,
organic halogens, tin, nitro compounds
Ammonium salts, acids, powdered metals, sulfur, finely
divided organic or combustible materials

Chromic acid

Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, glycerin, turpentine,

alcohol, flammable liquids

Chlorine

Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane,

(or other petroleum gases), hydrogen, sodium carbide,
turpentine, benzene, finely divided metals

Chlorine dioxide

Ammonia, methane, phosphine, hydrogen peroxide, nitric

acid, sodium peroxide, the halogens

Copper

Acetylene, hydrogen peroxide

Cumene hydroperoxide

Acids, organic or inorganic, reducing agents

Cyanides
(Sodium, potassium, hydrogen)

Acids and acid salts, nitrates, chlorates, other oxidizers

Esters
(Dibutyl phthalate, ethyl acetate, methyl methacrylate)

Oxidizing materials, nitrate, strong acids, strong bases,

peroxides

Ethers
(Isopropyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, tetrahydrofuran)

Strong acids, liquid oxygen or air, oxidizers

Flammable liquids

Ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric

acid, sodium peroxide, the halogens

Fluorides
(Potassium fluoride, sodium fluoride, hydrofluoric acid)

Acids; best to isolate

Fluorine

Isolate from everything

Appendix C
Laboratory Chemical Safety
Supplemental Information
Page 18

INCOMPATIBLE STORAGE CHART

Chemical

Is Incompatible With

Hydrocarbons
(Butane, propane, benzene, gasoline, turpentine, etc.)

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, chromic acid, sodium

peroxide, other oxidizers

Hydrocyanic acid

Nitric acid, alkali

Hydrofluoric acid, anhydrous

Ammonia, aqueous or anhydrous

Hydrogen peroxide

Copper, chromium, iron, most metals or their salts,

alcohols, acetone, organic materials, aniline, nitromethane,
flammable liquids, combustible materials

Hydrogen sulfide

Fuming nitric acid, oxidizing gases

Iodine

Acetylene, ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous), hydrogen

Isocyanates
(Methyl isocyanate, toluene diisocyanate)

(STORE UNDER NITROGEN OR DRY AIR)

WATER, alkali, amines, iron, copper, tin, strong oxidizers

Ketones
(Acetone, diethyl ketone, butanone, methyl ethyl ketone)

Strong oxidizers, nitric acid, hypochlorites, nitric acidhydrogen peroxide mixture

Mercaptans and organic sulfides

(Carbon disulfide)

Oxidizing agents, chlorine, azides, ethylenediamine,

fluorine, permanganates, potassium, zinc, calcium
hypochlorite, and organic amines

Mercury

Acetylene, fulminic acid, ammonia

Nitric acid, concentrated

Acetic acid, aniline, chromic acid, hydrocyanic acid,

hydrogen sulfide, flammable liquids, flammable gases

Oxalic acid

Silver, mercury

Perchloric acid

Acetic anhydride, bismuth and its alloys, alcohol, paper,

wood
STORE SEPARATELY. USE IN A SEPARATE AREA
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PERCHLORIC USE.
(including fume hood with washdown system)

Potassium

Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water, oxidizers

Potassium chlorate

Sulfuric and other acids, other oxidizers

Potassium perchlorate

Sulfuric and other acids, other oxidizers

(See also Chlorates)

Potassium permanganate

Glycerin, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid,

reducing agents such as organicliquids, etc.

Appendix C
Laboratory Chemical Safety
Supplemental Information
Page 19

INCOMPATIBLE STORAGE CHART

Chemical

Is Incompatible With

Silver

Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, ammonium compounds

Sodium

Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water, oxidizers

Sodium peroxide

Ethyl or methyl alcohol, glacial acetic acid, acetic

anhydride, benzaldehyde, carbon disulfide, glycerin,
ethylene glycol, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, furfural, other
reducing agents

Sulfuric acid

Potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium

permanganate (or compounds with similar light metals,
such as sodium, lithium)