- Chemical reactions: Some substances can react with one another, resulting in potentially harmful reactions. Acids and bases, for example, can react to generate heat, hazardous fumes, or explosions. Oxidizers can create flames when they react with flammable materials.
- Incompatibility: Some compounds may have physical features that make them incompatible with others. Some compounds, for example, may be incompatible due to differences in density, boiling temperature, or solubility. When these compounds are mixed, they can separate, precipitate, or change phase, which can lead to dangerous circumstances.
- Temperature sensitivity: Some substances are temperature sensitive and can degrade or react when exposed to high or low temperatures. Some compounds, for example, degrade when exposed to heat or light, whilst others become unstable when exposed to low temperatures.
- Shock or friction sensitivity: Some compounds are sensitive to shock or friction and can detonate when exposed to these conditions. Some chemicals, for example, can explode when dropped, struck, or come into touch with other objects.
- Container incompatibility: Some chemicals may be incompatible with specific storage containers or materials. Some chemicals, for example, can corrode or dissolve plastic containers, whilst others may react with metal containers.
CHEMICAL |
TO BE KEPT OUT OF CONTACT WITH |
Acetic acid |
Chromic acid, Nitric acid, Hydroxyl
compounds, ethylene, Glycol, Perchloric acid, Peroxides, and Permanganates. |
Acetylene |
Chlorine, Bromine,
Copper, Fluorine, Silver, Mercury |
Metals (powdered aluminum, Magnesium,
Sodium or Potassium) |
Carbon Tetrachloride or other
chlorinated Hydrocarbons,
Carbon dioxide, and Halogens. |
Ammonia |
Mercury (in
Manometers for instance) Chlorine, Iodine, Bromine, Hydrofluoric acid (G) |
Ammonium Nitrate |
Acids, Metal Powders, Flammable
Liquids, Chlorates, Nitrates, Finely divided organic or combustible
materials. |
Aniline |
Nitric acid,
hydrogen peroxide |
Bromine |
Ammonia, Acetylene, Benzene, Finely
divided metals |
Chromic
Acid |
Acetic acid,
Glycerin, Alcohol, Methanol, and Flammable Liquids in general. |
Hydrogen peroxide |
Copper, Chromium, Iron, Most metals and
their Salts, Alcohol, Acetone, Organic materials, Aniline, Flammable liquids,
and Combustible materials. |
Iodine |
Acetylene, Ammonia
(Aqueous and Gas) Hydrogen |
Mercury |
Acetylene, Ammonia |
Cons.
Nitric acid |
Acetic acid,
Aniline, Chromic acid, flammable liquids and gases |
Oxalic acid |
Mercury |
Perchloric
acid |
Acetic anhydride,
alcohol, paper, wood. |
Potassium permanganate |
Glycerin, Ethylene Glycol,
Benzaldehyde, Sulphuric acid |
Sodium |
Water, carbon tetrachloride, carbon dioxide |
Sulphuric acid |
Potassium permanganate and compounds of
similar light metals such as sodium |
Oxidizing
Substances that give rise to highly exothermic reactions in contact with other substances, particularly flammable substances.
Flammable
Extremely flammable liquids have a flash point less than 0C and a boiling point less than or equal to 35°C.
Harmful and irritant
Substances that present moderate risks to health by inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption, inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. Substances that are non-corrosive but are liable to cause inflammation through immediate prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or mucous membranes.
Explosive
Substances that may explode under the effect of flame or heat or which are more sensitive to the shock of friction than dinitrobenzene.
Toxic
Substances that present a serious risk of acute or chronic poisoning by inhalation ingestion or skin absorption.
Corrosive
Substances that destroy living tissue
Dangerous to the environment
The substance that, were they to enter into an environment, would present or might present an immediate or delayed danger for one or more components of the environment.