Miscellaneous

Examples of Incompatible Chemicals

This list is NOT complete. NOT ALL incompatible substances are shown.

CHEMICAL: KEEP OUT OF CONTACT WITH:
Acetic acid Chromic acid, Nitric acid, Hydroxyl compounds, Ethylene glycol, Perchloric acid, Peroxides, Permanganates
Acetylene and monosubstituted acetylenes Group IB and IIB metals and their salts, Halogens, Halogenating agents
Alkali and alkaline earth carbides, hydrides, hydroxides, metals, oxides, peroxides Water, Acids, Halogenating organic compounds, Halogenation agents, Oxidizing agents
Ammonia, anhydrous Mercury, Chlorine, Calcium hypochlorite, Iodine, Bromine, Hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous)
Ammonium nitrate Acids, Metal powders, Flammable liquids, Chlorates, Nitrites, Sulfur, Finely divided organic or combustible materials
Aniline Nitric acid, Hydrogen peroxide
Azides, inorganic Acids, Heavy metals and their salts, Oxidizing agents
Bromine Same as for chlorine
Carbon, activated Calcium hypochlorite, All oxidizing reagents
Chlorates Ammonium salts, Acids, Metal powders, Sulfur, Finely divided organic or combustible materials
Chromic acid Acetic acid, Naphthalene, Camphor, Glycerin, Turpentine, Alcohol, Flammable liquids in general
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 sulfide
Copper Acetylene, Hydrogen peroxide
Cumeme hydroperoxide Acids, Organic or inorganic
Cyanides, inorganic Acids, Strong bases
Flammable liquids Ammonium nitrate, Chromic acid, Hydrogen peroxide, Nitric acid, Sodium peroxide, The halogens
Fluorine Isolate from everything
Hydrocarbons (butane, propane, benzene, gasoline, turpentine, etc.) Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Chromic acid, Sodium peroxide
Hydrocyanic acid Nitric acid, Alkali
Hydrofluoric acid, anhydrous Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous)
Hydrogen peroxide Copper, Chromium, Iron, Most metals and 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
Mercury and its amalgams Acetylene, Fulminic acid, Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous), Nitric acid, Sodium azide
Nitrates, inorganic Acids, Reducing agents
Nitric acid Acetic acid, Aniline, Bases, Chromic acid, Chromates, Hydrocyanic acid, Metals, Permanganates, Reducing agents, Sulfides, Sulfuric acid, Flammable liquids, Flammable gases
Nitrites, inorganic Acids, Oxidizing agents
Organic acyl halides Oxidizing agents, Bases, Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
Organic anhydrides Bases, Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
Organic halogen compounds Group IA and IIA metals
Organic nitro compounds Strong bases
Oxalic acid Mercury and its salts, Silver and its salts
Perchloric acid Acetic anhydride, Bismuth and its alloys, Alcohol, Paper, Wood
Phosphorus Oxidizing agents, Oxygen, Strong bases
Phosphorus pentoxide Alcohols, Strong bases, Water
Potassium Carbon tetrachloride, Carbon dioxide, Water
Potassium chlorate Sulfuric and other acids
Potassium perchlorate (also see Chlorates) Sulfuric and other acids
Potassium permanganate Glycerin, Ethylene glycol, Benzaldehyde, Sulfuric acid
Silver Acetylene, Oxalic acid, Tartaric acid, Ammonium compounds
Sodium Carbon tetrachloride, Carbon dioxide, Water
Sodium peroxide Ethyl or methyl alcohol, Glacial acetic acid, Acetic anhydride, Benzaldehyde, Carbon disulfide, Glycerin, Ethylene glycol, Ethyl acetate, Methyl acetate, Furfural
Sulfides, inorganic Acids
Sulfuric acid, concentrated Bases, Potassium chlorate, Potassium perchlorate, Potassium permanganate (or compounds with similar light metals, such as sodium, lithium), Water

This list is NOT complete. NOT ALL incompatible substances are shown.

References:   Dangerous Chemicals Code, Bureau of Fire Prevention, City of Los Angeles Fire Department, 1951.
Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 1983.


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Page author: Dawn Rorvik (rorvikd@evergreen.edu)
Last modified: 07/09/2003