Appendix E - Chemical Compatibility Guide

Chemical

Incompatible with

Acetic acid

Chromic acid, nitric acid, hydroxyl compounds, ethylene glycol, perchloric acid, peroxides, permanganates

Acetylene

Chlorine, bromine, copper, fluorine, silver, mercury

Acetone

Concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid mixtures

Alkali and alkaline earth metals (such as powdered aluminum or magnesium, calcium, lithium, sodium, potassium)

Water, carbon tetrachloride or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, halogens

Ammonia (anhydrous)                              

Mercury (in manometers, for example), chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, bromine, hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous)

Ammonium nitrate

Acids, powdered metals, flammable liquids, chlorates, nitrites, sulfur, finely divided organic combustible materials

Aniline

Nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide

Arsenical materials 

Any reducing agent

Azides 

Acids

Bromine

See chlorine

Calcium oxide 

Water

Carbon(activated)                                                     

Calcium hypochlorite, all oxidizing agents

Carbon tetrachloride 

Sodium

Chlorates                                                                   

Ammonium salts, acids, powdered metals, sulfur, finely divided combustibles

Chromic acid and chromium trioxide

Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor, glycerol, alcohol, flammable liquids in general

Chlorine

Ammonia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, propane (or other petroleum gases), hydrogen, sodium carbide, benzene, finely divided metals, turpentine

Chlorine dioxide 

Ammonia, methane, phosphine, hydrogen sulfide

Copper    

Acetylene, hydrogen peroxide

Cumene hydroperoxide

Acids

Flammable liquids

Ammonium nitrate, chromic acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, sodium peroxide, halogens

Fluorine

All other chemicals

Hydrocarbons (such as butane, propane, benzene)

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, chromic acid, sodium peroxide

Hydrocyanic acid

Nitric acid, alkali's

Hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous)

Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous)

Hydrogen peroxide

Copper, chromium, iron, most metals or their salts, alcohols, acetone, organic materials, aniline, nitromethane, combustible materials

Hydrogen sulfide

Fuming nitric acid, oxidizing gases

Hypochlorites         

Acids, activated carbon

Iodine

Acetylene, ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous), hydrogen

Mercury

Acetylene, fulminic acid, ammonia

Nitrates

Sulfuric acid

Nitric acid (concentrated)

Acetic acid, aniline, chromic acid, hydrocyanic acid, hydrogen sulfide, flammable liquids, flammable gases, copper, brass, any heavy metals

Nitrites

Acids

Nitroparaffins

Inorganic bases, amines

Oxalic acid

Silver, mercury

Oxygen

Oils, grease, hydrogen; flammable liquids, solids or gases

Perchloric acid

Acetic anhydride, bismuth and its alloys, alcohol, paper, wood, grease, oils

Peroxides, organic

Acids (organic or mineral), avoid friction, store cold

Phosphorus (white)

Air, oxygen, alkali's, reducing agents

Potassium

Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water

Potassium chlorate

Sulfuric and other acids

Potassium perchlorate (see also chlorates)

Sulfuric and other acids

Potassium permanganate

Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid

Selenides

Reducing agents

Silver

Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, ammonium compounds, fulminic acid

Sodium

Carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide, water

Sodium nitrite

Ammonium nitrate and other ammonium salts

Sodium peroxide

Ethyl or methyl alcohol, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzaldehyde, carbon disulfide, glycerin, ethylene glycol, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, furfural

Sulfides

Acids

Sulfuric acid

Potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, potassium permanganate (similar compounds of light metals, such as sodium, lithium)

Tellurides

Reducing agents