Storage conditions

The correct method of storing and maintaining chemicals in the laboratory is one of the most important safety points that must be observed in the laboratory due to the potential risks it can bring. If incompatible chemicals are placed next to each other, there is a possibility of their reaction and the production of dangerous products with the ability to catch fire and explode.

In addition to causing pollution, improper storage of chemicals can cause wastage of materials and reduce their properties and chemical effects. On the other hand, proper storage of chemicals can be a beneficial way to increase the life and stability of materials. Therefore, in order to prevent the unwanted combination of chemicals with each other and the occurrence of accidents, it is necessary to know the safety tips and their correct storage methods.

Observing the following points can greatly reduce the risks of material incompatibility:

  • Avoid storing acids in the vicinity of bases or active metals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium.
  • Avoid storing solids or oxidizing acids in the vicinity of organic acids and flammable materials.
  • Avoid storing substances that react with water around the sink or near water solutions.
  • Avoid storing acids in the vicinity of materials that produce toxic gases in contact with them (such as sodium cyanide, iron sulfide).
  • Flammable materials should be stored in places completely away from heat.
  • Store materials that can be decomposed by light, away from direct light.

In the table below, the names of some incompatible chemicals whose combination may cause unwanted reactions are given.

Chemical substance Incompatible materials
1 Acetic acid Oxidizing agents such as: chromic acid – nitric acid – hydroxyl compounds – ethylene glycol – perchloric acid – peroxides – permanganates
2 Acetone Nitric acid – sulfuric acid – other oxidizing agents
3 acetylene chlorine-bromine-copper-fluorine-silver-mercury
4 Alkaline and alkaline earth metals such as aluminum powder, magnesium, calcium, lithium, sodium, potassium Water – carbon tetrachloride – other chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds – carbon dioxide – halogens
5 anhydrous ammonia Mercury (in a mercury barometer) – chlorine – calcium hypochlorite – iodine – bromine – hydrofluoric acid
6 Ammonium nitrate Acids – metal powder – flammable solutions – chlorates – nitrites – sulfur – small organic compounds or combustible materials
7 Aniline Nitric acid – hydrogen peroxide
8 Materials containing arsenic mitigating factors
9 Azides Acids
10 bromine See the factors related to chlorine
11 Calcium oxide Water
12 Activated carbon Calcium hypochlorite – other oxidizing agents
13 Chlorates Ammonium salts – acids – metal powder – sulfur – organic compounds – combustible materials
14 Chlorine Ammonia – acetylene – butadiene – butane – methane – propane (or other gases obtained from oil) – hydrogen – sodium carbide – benzene – metal powder – turpentine
15 Chlorine dioxide Ammonia-methane-phosphine-hydrogen sulfide
16 Ceramic acid (chromium trioxide) Acetic acid – naphthalene – camphor – glycerol – alcohol – flammable solutions
17 copper Acetylene-hydrogen peroxide
18 Cyanides Acids
19 Flammable solutions Ammonium nitrate – Chromic acid – Hydrogen peroxide – Nitric acid – Sodium peroxide – Halogens
20 Hydrocarbons (like: butane-propane-gasoline) Fluorine-chlorine-bromine-ceramic acid-sodium peroxide-other oxidizing agents
21 Hydrocyanic acid Alkali
22 Hydrofluoric acid Potassium permanganate-sulfuric acid
23 Hydrogen sulfide Metal oxides – copper powder – oxidizing agents
24 Hypochlorites Acids – activated carbon – ammonia
25 Acetylene-ammonia (gas or aqueous solution)-hydrogen
26 mercury Acetyl-fulminic acid-ammonia
27 Metal and non-metal powders – metal sulfides – combustible solutions
28 Acetic acid – aniline – chromic acid – acid hydrocyanide – hydrogen sulfide – flammable gases and solutions – copper – brass alloy – heavy metals – alkalis
29 Ammonium salts – amides – phosphides – reducing agents
30 Acids – bases – amines – halides
31 Silver – chlorides – urea
32 Oils-grease-hydrogen-other reducing agents including gases, solutions and flammable solids
33 Similar to chlorates
34 Reducing agents such as: acetic anhydride – bismuth and its alloys – alcohols – paper – wool – grease – oils
35 Air – oxygen – alkalis – halogens – halogen oxides – oxidizing agents
36 Carbon tetrachloride – carbon dioxide – water
37 Glycerol – ethylene glycol – benzaldehyde – other reducing agents – sulfuric acid
38 Carbon tetrachloride – carbon dioxide – water
39 Ethanol- Methanol- Glacial Acetic Acid- Acetic Anhydride- Benzaldehyde- Carbon Disulfide- Glycerin- Ethylene Glycol- Acetyl Acetate- Methyl Acetate- Furfural
40 Acids
41 Aqueducts – water – aqueous solutions – reducing agents – chlorates – perchlorates – nitric acid
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