15 Reasons Not to Store Your Chemicals Alphabetically

15 Reasons Not to Store Your Chemicals Alphabetically

Chemicals Stored Together Possible Reactions
1. Acetic acid + acetaldehyde Small amounts of acetic acid will cause the acetaldehyde to polymerize, thus releasing great quantities of heat.
2. Acetic anhydride + acetaldehyde Reaction can be violently explosive.
3. Aluminum metal + ammonium nitrate A potential explosive.
4. Aluminum + bromine vapor Aluminum foil reacts with bromine vapor at room temperature and incandesces.
5. Ammonia vapor + bromine vapor Unstable nitrogen tribromide is formed; explosion may result.
6. Ammonium nitrate + acetic acid A mixture may result in ignition, especially if the acetic acid is concentrated.
7. Cupric sulfide + cadmium chlorate Will explode on contact.
8. Hydrogen peroxide + ferrous sulfide A vigorous, highly exothermic reaction.
9. Hydrogen peroxide + lead II or IV oxide Violent, possible explosive reaction.
10. Lead perchlorate + methyl alcohol An explosive mixture if agitated.
11. Lead sulfide + hydrogen peroxide Vigorous, potentially explosive reaction.
12. Mercury II nitrate + methanol May form mercury fulminate - an explosive.
13. Nitric acid + phosphorous Phosphorus burns spontaneously in the presence of nitric acid.
14. Potassium cyanide + potassium peroxide A potentially explosive mixture if heated.
15. Sodium nitrate + sodium thiosulfate A mixture of the dry materials can result in explosion.

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SOURCE: Risk Management Department
        109 S. Prospect St.
 
CONTACT: Ralph Stuart, 656-3068
         rstuart@moose.uvm.edu
 
LAST UPDATE: 5/24/93
 
 
SAFETY NOTES NEWSLETTER ARTICLE
 
Written and Edited by the Chemical Safety Office, Risk Management Dept.,
University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405
 
copyright University of Vermont
 
Disclaimer: The information in this article is believed to be true, but no
guarantee is given and no responsibility is assumed for the inerpretations
or use of this information. 

- Adapted from The Flinn Scientific, Inc. catalog

Chemicals Stored Together	Possible Reactions
1. Acetic acid + acetaldehyde	Small amounts of acetic acid will cause the acetaldehyde to polymerize, thus releasing great quantities of heat.
2. Acetic anhydride + acetaldehyde	Reaction can be violently explosive.
3. Aluminum metal + ammonium nitrate	A potential explosive.
4. Aluminum + bromine vapor	Aluminum foil reacts with bromine vapor at room temperature and incandesces.
5. Ammonia vapor + bromine vapor	Unstable nitrogen tribromide is formed; explosion may result.
6. Ammonium nitrate + acetic acid	A mixture may result in ignition, especially if the acetic acid is concentrated.
7. Cupric sulfide + cadmium chlorate	Will explode on contact.
8. Hydrogen peroxide + ferrous sulfide	A vigorous, highly exothermic reaction.
9. Hydrogen peroxide + lead II or IV oxide	Violent, possible explosive reaction.
10. Lead perchlorate + methyl alcohol	An explosive mixture if agitated.
11. Lead sulfide + hydrogen peroxide	Vigorous, potentially explosive reaction.
12. Mercury II nitrate + methanol	May form mercury fulminate - an explosive.
13. Nitric acid + phosphorous	Phosphorus burns spontaneously in the presence of nitric acid.
14. Potassium cyanide + potassium peroxide	A potentially explosive mixture if heated.
15. Sodium nitrate + sodium thiosulfate	A mixture of the dry materials can result in explosion.