Chemical Storage Guide

Store chemicals in cabinets and on shelving provided for such storage. Avoid storing chemicals on
top of cabinets, and never store any material within 18 inches of the ceiling in sprinklered areas.
Avoid storing chemicals on bench tops or in fume hoods. Store flammable materials in a
Flammable Storage Cabinet. Label all chemical containers, including samples, appropriately with
the full name and hazard warning. Use secondary containment if the chemicals are stored near a
sink or other drain or to segregate incompatible materials (e.g. acids and bases in a corrosive
storage cabinet).

Do not store chemicals alphabetically as a general group. This may result in incompatibles
appearing together on a shelf. Separate chemicals into their primary hazard class or organic and
inorganic families and then related and compatible groups. Separation of chemical groups can be
by different shelves within the same cabinet if spill containers are used.

The labels on several manufacturers’ chemicals include a Storage Code. This color-coded bar
provides a visible guide to storage compatibility by primary hazard class. Some of the groups may
be further subdivided. The five storage groups are:

RED: Flammable. Store in area segregated for flammable reagents.

BLUE: Health Hazard. Toxic if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin. Store in secure area.
YELLOW: Reactive and oxidizing reagent. May react violently with air, water or other substances.
Store away from flammable and combustible materials.
WHITE: Corrosive. May harm skin, eyes, mucous membranes. Store away from red-, yellow-, and
blue-coded reagents.
GRAY, GREEN or ORANGE: Presents no more than moderate hazard. For general chemical
storage.

Related and Compatible Storage Groups1

Inorganic Family
• Metals, hydrides
• Halides, sulfates, sulfites, thiosulfates,phosphates, halogens
• Amides, nitrates (ammonium nitrate), nitrites, azides
• Hydroxides, oxides, silicates, carbonates, carbon
• Sulfides, selenides, phophides, carbides, nitrides
• Chlorates, perchlorates, perchloric acid, chlorites, hypochlorites, peroxides, hydrogen peroxide
• Arsenates, cyanides, cyanates
• Borates, chromates, manganates, permanganates
• Nitric acid, other inorganic acids
• Sulfur, phosphorus, arsenic, phosphorus pentoxide

Organic Family
• Acids, anhydrides, peracids
• Alcohols, glycols, amines, amides, imines, imides
• Hydrocarbons, esters, aldehydes
• Ethers, ketones, ketenes, halogenated hydrocarbons, ethylene oxide
• Epoxy compounds, isocyanates
• Peroxides, hydroperoxides, azides
• Sulfides, polysulfides, sulfoxides, nitrites
• Phenols, cresols

1
From National Research Council Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. 1995.
(http://www.nap.edu/catalog/4911.html)
Environmental Health and Safety www.stonybrook.edu/ehs 632-6410
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9/05

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 Classes of Incompatible Chemicals

A Incompatible with B
Alkali and alkaline earth Water
Carbides Acids
Hydrides Halogenated organic compounds
Hydroxides Halogenating agents
Metals Oxidizing agents
Oxides
Peroxides
Azides, inorganic Acids
Heavy metals and their salts
Oxidizing agents
Cyanides, inorganic Acids
Strong bases
Nitrates, inorganic Acids
Reducing agents
Nitrites, inorganic Acids
Oxidizing agents
Organic compounds Oxidizing agents
Organic acyl halides Bases
Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
Organic anhydrides Bases
Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
Organic halogen compounds Group IA and IIA metals
Aluminum
Organic nitro compounds Strong bases
Oxidizing agents Reducing agents
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
Reducing agents Oxidizing agents
Arsenates
Arsenites
Phosphorus
Selenites
Selenates

Environmental Health and Safety www.stonybrook.edu/ehs 632-6410

Stony Brook University
9/05

EHSD0261 (10/08) Page 2 of 2 www.stonybrook.edu/ehs