INCOMPATIBILITY OF COMMON LABORATORY CHEMICALS

CHEMICAL	INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS
Acetic acid	aldehyde, bases, carbonates, hydroxides, metals, oxidizers, peroxides, phosphates, xylene
Acetone	acids, amines, oxidizers, plastics
Alkali and alkaline earth metals	acids, chromium, ethylene, halogens, hydrogen, mercury, nitrogen, oxidizers, plastics, sodium chloride, sulfur
Ammonia	acids, aldehydes, amides, halogens, heavy metals, oxidizers, plastics, sulfur
Ammonium nitrate	acids, alkalis, chloride salts, combustible materials, metals, organic materials, phosphorous, reducing agents, urea
Aniline	acids, aluminum, dibenzoyl peroxide, oxidizers, plastics
Azides	acids, heavy metals, oxidizers
Bromine	acetaldehyde, alcohols, alkalis, amines, combustible materials, ethylene, fluorine, hydrogen, ketones (acetone, carbonyls, etc.), metals, sulfur
Calcium oxide	acids, ethanol, fluorine, organic materials
Carbon (activated)	alkali metals, calcium hypochlorite, halogens, oxidizers
Carbon tetrachloride	benzoyl peroxide, ethylene, fluorine, metals, oxygen, plastics, silanes
Chlorates	powdered metals, sulfur, finely divided organic or combustible materials
Chromic acid	acetone, alcohols, alkalis, ammonia, bases
Chromium trioxide	benzene, combustible materials, hydrocarbons, metals, organic materials, phosphorous, plastics
Chlorine	alcohol's, ammonia, benzene, combustible materials, flammable compounds (hydrazine), hydrocarbons (acetylene, ethylene, etc.), hydrogen peroxide, iodine, metals, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium hydroxide
Chlorine dioxide	hydrogen, mercury, organic materials, phosphorous, potassium hydroxide, sulfur
Copper	calcium, hydrocarbons, oxidizers
Flammable liquids	ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens
Fluorine	alcohol's, aldehydes, ammonia, combustible materials, halocarbons, halogens, hydrocarbons, ketones, metals, organic acids
Formaldehyde	Strong oxidizing agents, caustics, strong alkalis, isocyanates, anhydrides, oxides, and inorganic acids. Formaldehyde reacts with hydrochloric acid to form the potent carcinogen, bis-chloromethyl ether. Formaldehyde reacts with nitrogen dioxide, nitromethane, perchloric acid and aniline, or peroxyformic acid to yield explosive compounds. A violent reaction occurs when formaldehyde is mixed with strong oxidizers.
Hydrocarbons (e.g., butane, propane, benzene)	acids, bases, oxidizers, plastics
Hydrofluoric acid	metals, organic materials, plastics, silica (glass), (anhydrous) sodium
Hydrogen peroxide	acetylaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, alcohol's carboxylic acid, combustible materials, metals, nitric acid, organic compounds, phosphorous, sulfuric acid, sodium, aniline
Hydrogen sulfide	acetylaldehyde, metals, oxidizers, sodium
Hypochlorites	acids, activated carbon
Iodine	acetylaldehyde, acetylene, ammonia, metals, sodium
Mercury	acetylene, aluminum, amines, ammonia, calcium, fulminic acid, lithium, oxidizers, sodium
Nitrates	acids, nitrites, metals, sulfur, sulfuric acid
Nitric acid	acetic acid, acetonitrile, alcohol's, amines, ammonia, aniline, bases, benzene, cumene, formic acid, ketones, metals, organic materials, plastics, sodium, toluene
Oxalic acid	oxidizers, silver, sodium chlorite
Oxygen	acetaldehyde, secondary alcohol's, alkalis and alkalines, ammonia, carbon monoxide, combustible materials, ethers, flammable materials, hydrocarbons, metals, phosphorous, polymers
Perchloric acid	acetic acid, alcohols, aniline, combustible materials, dehydrating agents, ethyl benzene, hydriotic acid, hydrochloric acid, iodides, ketones, organic material, oxidizers, pyridine
Peroxides, organic	acids (organic or mineral)
Potassium	acetylene, acids, alcohols, halogens, hydrazine, mercury, oxidizers, selenium, sulfur
Potassium chlorate	acids, ammonia, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrocarbons, metals, organic materials, sugars
Potassium perchlorate (also see chlorates)	alcohols, combustible materials, fluorine, hydrazine, metals, organic matter, reducing agents, sulfuric acid
Potassium permanganate	benzaldehyde, ethylene glycol, glycerol, sulfuric acid
Sodium	acids, hydrazine, metals, oxidizers, water
Sodium nitrate	acetic anhydride, acids, metals, organic matter, peroxyformic acid, reducing agents
Sodium peroxide	acetic acid, benzene, hydrogen sulfide metals, oxidizers, peroxyformic acid, phosphorous, reducers, sugars, water
Sulfides	acids
Sulfuric acid	potassium chlorates, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate