[13] CHEMICAL INCOMPATIBILITIES

1. Harmful gases/vapors

2. Heat

3. Fire

4. Explosions

The four potential hazardous outcomes resulting from storing incompatible chemicals together

Segregation or secondary containment

The primary solution to prevent hazardous reactions between incompatible chemicals in storage.

• Best option: Separate storage cabinets or shelves

• Next best option: Secondary containment

The best overall option for storing incompatible chemicals, as well as the next best option.

Refrigerators and other chemical storage locations

Special storage units explicitly highlighted as requiring chemical compatibility oversight.

Keep an eye on containers, make note of the date received, and observe expiration dates (e.g., for chemicals that can expire like ethyl ether).

Key container management practices for chemical storage to prevent accidental hazards.

1. Acids and bases

2. Oxidizers and flammable liquids

3. Water reactive and aqueous/corrosive materials

The three major groups of incompatible chemicals.

Nitric acid, Sulfuric acid, Phosphoric acid, and Hydrochloric acid

The specific acid examples listed under chemical incompatibilities

Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, Ammonium hydroxide, and Imidazole

The specific base examples listed under chemical incompatibilities.

30% (or greater) hydrogen peroxide, Silver nitrate, Ammonium persulfate, Potassium permanganate, and Nitric acid

The specific oxidizer examples listed under chemical incompatibilities

Ethanol, Glacial acetic acid, Propanol, Acetone, Xylene, and Methanol

The specific flammable examples listed under chemical incompatibilities.

Sodium, Lithium, Lithium borohydride, and Sodium hydride

The specific water-reactive chemical examples listed under chemical incompatibilities

Fuming nitric acid, Concentrated sulfuric acid, and Concentrated phosphoric acid

The specific aqueous/corrosive chemical examples listed as incompatible with water-reactives.

Glacial Acetic Acid is flammable! A flammable liquid cannot be stored with acids (HCl) unless it is placed in secondary containment.

The storage mistake depicted when Glacial Acetic Acid is placed directly on a shelf next to Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

Hydrogen Peroxide is an oxidizer! Oxidizers and flammables stored in fridges/freezers must be kept in secondary containers.

The storage mistake depicted when Hydrogen Peroxide Concentrate is placed in a refrigerator door next to other liquids.