Classes of Incompatible Chemicals

In the table below, the chemicals in column A are incompatible with the corresponding chemicals in Column B.  Certain combinations of chemicals are explosive, poisonous or hazardous in some way.  Experiments which require the mingling of incompatibles must be designed carefully.  Always use minimum quantities.  Store incompatibles away from one another. 

Column A		Column B
Alkali and alkaline earth		Water
	Carbides	Acids
	Hydrides	Halogenated organic compounds
	Hydroxides	Halogenating agents
	Metals	Oxidizing agents
	Oxides
	Peroxides
Azides, inorganic		Acids
		Heavy metals and their salts
		Oxidizing agents
Cyanides, inorganic		Acids
		Strong bases
Nitrates, inorganic		Acids
		Reducing agents
Nitrites, inorganic		Acids
		Oxidizing agents
Organic compounds		Oxidizing agents
	Organic acyl halides	Bases
		Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
	Organic anhydrides	Bases
		Organic hydroxy and amino compounds
	Organic halogen compounds	Group IA and IIA metals
		Aluminum
	Organic nitro compounds	Strong bases
Oxidizing agents^a		Reducing agents^a
	Chlorates	Ammonia, anhydrous and aqueous
	Chromates	Carbon
	Chromium trioxide	Metals
	Dichromates	Metal hydrides
	Halogens	Nitrites
	Halogenating agents	Organic compounds
	Hydrogen peroxide	Phosphorus
	Nitric acid	Silicon
	Nitrates	Sulfur
	Perchlorates
	Peroxides
	Permanganates
	Persulfates
Reducing agents^a		Oxidizing agents^a
		Arsenates
		Arsenites
		Phosphorus
		Selenites
		Selenates
		Tellurium salts and oxides
Sulfides, inorganic		Acids
^a The examples of oxidizing and reducing agents are illustrative of common laboratory chemicals; they are not intended to be exhaustive.

From Prudent Practices in the Laboratory, National Academy Press, 1995.

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