Chemical Compatibility Chart

Below is a chart adapted from the CRC Laboratory Handbook which groups various chemicals in to 23 groups with examples and incompatible chemical groups. This chart is by no means complete but it will aid in making decisions about storage. For more complete information please refer to the MSDS for the specific chemical.(Safety In Academic Chemical Lab compatability chart) (EPA compatiblity chart)

 

Group

Name

Example

Incompatible Groups

Group 1

Inorganic Acids

Hydrochloric acid

Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrogen chloride

Hydrogen fluoride

Nitric acid

Sulfuric acid

Phosphoric acid

2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,13,14,16,17,18,19,21,22,23

Group 2 

Organic acids

Acetic acid

Butyric acid

Formic acid

Propionic acid

1,3,4,7,14,16,17,18,19,22

Group 3 

Caustics

Sodium hydroxide

Ammonium hydroxide solution

1,2,6,7,8,13,14,15,16,17,18,20,23

Group 4 

Amines and Alkanolamines

Aminoethylethanolamine

Aniline

Diethanolamine

Diethylamine

Dimethylamine

Ethylenediamine

2-Methyl-5-ethylpyridine

Monoethanolamine

Pyridine

Triethanolamine

Triethylamine

Triethylenetetramine

1,2,5,7,8,13,14,15,16,17,18,23

Group 5 

Halogenated Compounds

Allyl chloride

Carbon tetrachloride

Chlorobenzene

Chloroform

Methylene chloride

Monochlorodifluoromethane

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene

1,1,1-Trichloroethane

Trichloroethylene

Trichlorofluoromethane

1,3,4,11,14,17

Group 6 

Alcohols

Glycols

Glycol Ether

1,4-Butanediol

Butanol (iso, n, sec, tert)

Diethylene glycol

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl butanol

Ethylene glycol

Furfuryl alcohol

Isoamyl alcohol

Methyl alcohol

Methylamyl alcohol

Propylene glycol

1,7,14,16,20,23

Group 7 

Aldehydes Acetaldehyde

Acrolein

Butyraldehyde

Crotonaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Furfural

Paraformaldehyde

Propionaldehyde

1,2,3,4,6,8,15,16,17,19,20,23

Group 8

Ketones

Acetone

Acetophenone

Diisobutyl ketone

Methyl ethyl ketone

1,3,4,7,19,20

Group 9

Saturated Hydrocarbons

Butane

Cyclohexane

Ethane

Heptane

Paraffins

Paraffin wax

Pentane

Petroleum ether

20

Group 10

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Benzene

Cumene

Ethyl benzene

Naphtha

Naphthalene

Toluene

Xylene

1,20

Group 11

Olefins

Butylene

1-Decene

1-Dodecene

Ethylene

Turpentine

1,5,20

Group 12

Petroleum Oils

Gasoline

Mineral Oil

20

Group 13

Esters

Amyl acetate

Butyl acetates

Castor oil

Dimethyl sulfate

Ethyl acetate

1,3,4,19,20

Group 14

Monomers Polymerizable Esters

Acrylic acid

Acrylonitrile

Butadiene

Acrylates

1,2,3,4,5,6,15,16,19,20,21,23

Group 15

Phenols

Carbolic acid

Cresote

Cresols Phenol

3,4,7,14,16,19,20

Group 16

Alkylene Oxides

Ethylene oxide

Propylene oxide

1,2,3,4,6,7,14,15,17,18,19,23

Group 17

Cyanohydrins

Acetone cyanohydrin

Ethylene cyanohydrin

1,2,3,4,5,7,16,19,23

Group 18

Nitriles

Acetonitrile

Adiponitrile

1,2,3,4,16,23

Group 19

Ammonia

Ammonium Hydroxide

Ammonium Gas

1,2,7,8,13,14,15,16,17,20,23

Group 20 

Halogens

Chlorine

Fluorine

3,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,19,21,22

Group 21

Ethers

Diethyl Ether

THF

1,14,20

Group 22

Phosphorus

Phosphorus, Elemental

1,2,3,20

Group 23 

Acid Anhydrides

Acetic anhydride

Propionic anhydride

1,3,4,6,7,14,16,17,18,19