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 Water, carbon tetrachloride or
(such as powdered aluminum or other chlorinated hydrocarbons,
magnesium calcium, lithium, carbon dioxide, halogens
sodium, potassium)
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
organic or combustible materials
Chromic acid and chromium Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphor
trioxide 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, Fluorine, chlorine, bromine,
propane, benzene) chromic acid, sodium peroxide
Hydrocyanic acid Nitric acid, alkali
Hydrofluoric acid (anhydrous) Ammonia (aqueous or anhydrous)
Hydrogen peroxide Copper, chromium, iron, most
metals or their salts, alcohols,
acetone, organic materials, aniline,
nitomethane, 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, alkalis, reducing
agents
Potassium Carbon tetrachloride, carbon
dioxide, water
Potassium chlorate Sulfuric and other acids
Potassium perchlorate (see also Sulfuric and other acids
chlorates)
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
