University of Texas at Arlington Environmental Health & Safety
Chemical Segregation & Incompatibilities Guidelines Class of Chemical
Corrosive Acids
Examples
Mineral Acids Chromic Acid Hydrogen Chloride Hydrochloric Acid Nitric Acid Perchloric Acid Phosphoric Acid Sulfuric Acid Ammonium Hydroxide Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Bicarbonate
Recommended Storage Method
Separate cabinet or storage area away from potential water sources, i.e. under sink
Incompatible Materials
Flammable Liquids Flammable Solids Bases Oxidizers Poisons
Possible Reaction If Mixed
Heat Gas Generation Violent Reaction
Corrosive Bases/ Caustics
Separate cabinet or storage area away from potential water sources, i.e. under sink
Flammable Liquids Flammable Solids Acids Oxidizers Poisons Flammable Liquids Oxidizers Poisons Acids Bases
Heat Gas Generation Violent Reaction
Explosives
Flammable Liquids
Ammonium Nitrate Nitro Urea Picric Acid Trinitroaniline Trinitrobenzene Trinitrobenzoic Acid Trinitrotoluene Urea Nitrate Acetone Benzene Diethyl Ether Methanol Ethanol Toluene Glacial Acetic Acid
Secure location away from other chemicals
Explosion Hazard
Grounded flammable storage cabinet of flammable storage refrigerator
Acids Bases Oxidizers Poisons
Fire Hazard Heat Violent Reaction
Flammable Solids
Phosphorus Magnesium
Separate dry cool area
Acids Bases Oxidizers Poisons Reducing Agents Flammables Combustibles Corrosives
Fire Hazard Heat Violent Reaction Fire Hazard Toxic Gas Generation
Oxidizers
Poisons
Sodium Hypochlorite Benzoyl Peroxide Potassium Permanganate Potassium Chlorate Potassium Dichromate Peroxides Perchlorates Chlorates Nitrates Cyanides Cadmium Mercury Osmium Acrylamide DMSO
Spill tray that is separate from flammable and combustible materials
Vented, cool, dry area in unbreakable chemically resistant secondary containers
Flammable Liquids Acids Bases Oxidizers Corrosives Aqueous Solutions Oxidizers
Generation of Toxic & Flammable Gas Violent Reaction Heat Violent Reaction
Water Reactive Chemicals
Sodium Metal Potassium Metal Lithium Metal Lithium Aluminum Hydride Methane Acetylene Propane Hydrogen Oxygen Chlorine Bromine
Dry, cool location away from potential spray from fire sprinklers and other water sources, i.e. under sink Cool, dry area away from oxidizing gases while securely attached to wall or bench
Flammable Compressed Gases
Oxidizing & Toxic Compressed Gases Oxidizing Solids
Fire Hazard Explosion Hazard
Oxidizing Compressed Gases
Cool, dry area away from flammable gases while securely attached to wall or bench
Flammable Gases
Fire Hazard Explosion Hazard
Poisonous Compressed Gases
Carbon Monoxide Hydrogen Sulfide
Cool, dry area away from flammable gases or liquids while securely attached to wall or bench
Flammable Gases Oxidizing Gases
Release of Toxic Gas Violent Reaction
Partial Incompatibility Listing
Compound/Class Avoid Storage Near or Contact With: Acids Acetic Acid ----------------Chromic acid, nitric acid, hydroxyl compounds, ethylene, glycogen, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanganate Hydrofluoric Acid --------Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous) Nitric Acid (conc.) -------Acetic acid, aniline, chromic acid, acetone, alcohol, or other flammable liquids, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide, or other flammable gases, nitratable substances: copper, brass or any heavy metals (or will generate nitrogen dioxide/nitrous fumes) or organic products such as wood and paper Sulfuric Acid --------------Light metals (lithium, sodium, potassium), chlorates, perchlorates, permanganates Bases Ammonia ------------------Mercury, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydrofluoric acid, calcium hypochlorite Calcium oxide ------------Water Alkaline metals -----------Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, carbon dioxide, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, halogens, water Bromine -------------------Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, methane, propane, butane (or other petroleum gases), hydrogen, sodium carbide, turpentine, benzene, finely divided metals Carbon, activated----------Calcium hypochlorite, oxidizing agents Chlorine -------------------Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, methane, propane, butane, or other petroleum gases, hydrogen, sodium carbide, turpentine, benzene, finely divided metals Copper ---------------------Acetylene, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid Fluorine --------------------Isolate from everything Iodine ----------------------Acetylene, ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous), hydrogen Mercury --------------------Acetylene, ammonia, fulminic acid (produced in nitric acid ethanol mixtures) Oxygen --------------------Oils, grease, hydrogen, other flammable gases, liquids, or solids Phosphorous (white) -----Air, oxygen, caustic alkalis as reducing agents (or will generate phosphine) Potassium ------------------Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water Silver -----------------------Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, fulminic acid (produced in nitric acid-ethanol mixtures), and ammonium compounds Organics Acetone --------------------Concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid mixtures Acetylene ------------------Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, copper, silver, mercury Aniline ---------------------Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide Flammable Liquids -------Ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens Hydrocarbons--------------Fluoride, chlorine, bromine, chromic acid, sodium peroxide (propane, butane, etc.) Nitroparaffins -------------Inorganic bases, amines Oxalic Acid ----------------Silver, mercury
Oxidizers Chlorates ------------------Ammonia salts, acids, metal powders, sulfur, finely divided organics, or combustible materials Chromic Acid (trioxide)--Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, glycerol, turpentine, alcohol or flammable liquids Ammonium Nitrate ------Acids, metal powders, flammable liquids, chlorates, nitrates, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials Chlorine Dioxide ---------Ammonia, methane, phosphine, hydrogen sulfide Cumene Hydroperoxide --Organic or inorganic acids Hydrogen Peroxide -------Copper, chromium, iron, most other metals or salts, alcohols, acetone, or other flammable liquids, aniline, nitromethane, or other organic or combustible materials Hypochlorites -------------Acids (will generate chlorine or hypochlorous acid Nitrates --------------------Sulfuric acid (will generate nitrogen dioxide) Perchloric Acid -----------Acetic acid, bismuth and its alloys, alcohol, paper, wood, grease, oils Peroxides (Organics) -----Organic or inorganic acids; also avoid friction and store cold Potassium Chlorate -------Acids, especially sulfuric acid Potassium Permanganate-Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid Sodium Peroxide ---------Any oxidizable substance such as methanol, ethanol, glycerol, ethylene glycol, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzaldehyde, furfural, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, carbon disulfide Alkaline metals -----------Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, carbon dioxide, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, halogens, water Calcium oxide ------------Water Cyanides -------------------Acids (will generate hydrogen cyanide) Phosphorous (white)------Air, oxygen, caustic alkalis as reducing agents (will generate phosphine) Potassium ------------------Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water Sodium ---------------------Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water Sodium Peroxide ---------Any oxidizable substance such as methanol, ethanol, glycerol, ethylene glycol, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzaldehyde, furfural, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, carbon disulfide Sulfides --------------------Acids (will generate hydrogen sulfide) Reducing Agents Hydrazine -----------------Hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, other oxidants Nitrites ---------------------Acids (will generate nitrous fumes) Sodium Nitrite-------------Ammonium nitrate and other ammonium salts Toxics/Poisons Arsenicals -----------------Reducing agents (will generate arsine) Azides ----------------------Acids (will generate hydrogen azide) Cyanides -------------------Acids (will generate hydrogen cyanide) Hydrocyanic Acid --------Nitric Acid, alkalis Hydrogen Sulfide ---------Fuming nitric acid, oxidizing gases Selenides ------------------Reducing agents (will generate hydrogen selenide) Sulfides --------------------Acids (will generate hydrogen sulfide) Tellurides ------------------Reducing agents (will generate hydrogen telluride) Date created 03/05/01
