LIST OF INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS

LIST OF INCOMPATIBLE CHEMICALS

Acetic acid: Chromic acid, Nitric acid, Hydroxyl compounds, Ethylene glycol, Perchloric acid,   Peroxides and Permanganates.

Acetylene: Chlorine, Bromine, Copper, Fluorine, Silver and Mercury.

Metals (powdered: Carbon tetra-chloride or other Chlorinated hydrocarbons, Aluminium,         Magnesium Hydrocarbons, Carbon dioxide and Halogens. Sodium or Potassium)

Ammonia: Mercury (in manometers), Chlorine, Iodine, Bromine and Hydrofluoric acid.

Ammonium nitrite: Acids, metal powders, flammable liquids, Chlorates, Nitrates, finely             divided  organic or combustible materials.

Aniline: Nitric acid and Hydrogen peroxide.

Bromine / Chlorine: Ammonia, Acetylene, Benzene, finely divided metals and Petroleum ether.

Chromic acid: Acetic acid, Glycerine, Alcohol, Methanol, 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) and Hydrogen.

Mercury: Acetylene and Ammonia.

Nitric acid: Acetic acid, Aniline, Chromic acid, flammable liquids and gases

Oxalic acid: Mercury

Perchloric acid: Acetic anhydride, Alcohol, paper and wood. Potassium

Permanganate: Glycerine, Ethylene glycol, Benzaldehyde and Sulphuric acid.

Sodium: Water, Carbon tetra-chloride and Carbon dioxide.

Sulphuric acid: Potassium permanganate and compounds of Sodium metals

General Precautions to Avoid Accidents in a Chemical Laboratory

1. Each and every chemical laboratory must have a complete first aid box.
2. Laboratory must be kept clean and tidy at all times.
3. Each person working in the laboratory should ensure that he or she knows where the exits are, position of the fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid boxes, drench showers etc. and know how to use them.
4. Use full length protective coat or an apron preferably in white, while working in the laboratory.
5. Wear safety goggles to prevent any injury to eyes by splashing of chemicals.
6. A pair of gloves must be used when handling poisonous or toxic chemicals.
7. A rubber bulb should always be used for pipetting solutions.
8. Experiments involving toxic reagents or solvents must be conducted in an efficient fume cup board.
9. Before leaving the laboratory, wash and clean every apparatus, wipe the table and keep all the apparatus in its original position.
10. There should be seperate bins with lids for broken glassware and for flammable materials. The waste should be removed regularly from the laboratory.
11. After using a chemical, the containers should be tightly closed and returned to its original place.
12. Corrosive chemicals should be stored in corrossion – resistant chamber.
13. Use only minimum quantity of reagents. Using excess of these is hazardous and expensive also.
14. Strong acids for conducting experiments should be diluted before being poured into the sink.
15. When the burner is not in use, lower the flame. As soon as the days work is over close the gas tap.
16. Once you have taken a reagent from a bottle, never pour it back even if there is some excess quantity.
17. Replace the reagent bottles in its original places at once after the use and see that these are stoppered.
18. Never take more than one reagent bottle at a time to avoid cross contamination.
19. Never handle chemicals with your finger. Always use fresh, clean spatula.
20. Never try to lift the glass bottle holding the neck alone.
21. Don’t eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory / store rooms.
22. Do not throw solid wastes or filter paper or other wastes into the sink.
23. Chemicals should never be allowed to accumulate in work benches or in fume cupboards.
24. Flammable solvents like benzene, alcohol, ether and carbon disulphide should never be handled without turning off burners, heaters, etc.
25. Flammable solvents should never be kept in open beakers