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Storage of laboratory chemicals presents an ongoing safety hazard for science departments. There are many chemicals that are incompatible with each other. The common method of storing these products in alphabetical order sometimes results in incompatible neighbors. For example, storing strong oxidizing materials next to organic chemicals can present a hazard.
A possible solution is to separate chemicals into their organic and inorganic families and then to further divide the materials into related and compatible families. Below is a list of compatible families. On the next page you will find this family arrangement pictured as shelf areas in your chemical stores area. The pictured shelf arrangement will easily enable you to rearrange your inventory into a safer and more compatible environment.
“Your Safer Source for Science” Chemical Inventory SUGGESTED CHEMICAL STORAGE PATTERN
Inorganic
2. Acetates, Halides, Iodides, Sulfates, Sulfites, Thiosulfates, Phosphates, Halogens, Oxalates, Phthalates, Oleates
3. Amides, Nitrates (except Ammonium Nitrate), Nitrites, Azides
4. Hydroxides, Oxides, Silicates, Carbonates, Carbon
5. Sulfides, Selenides, Phosphides, Carbides, Nitrides
6. Chlorates, Bromates, Iodates, Chlorites, Hypochlorites, Perchlorates, Perchloric Acid, Peroxides, Hydrogen Peroxide
7. Arsenates, Cyanides, Cyanates
8. Borates, Chromates, Manganates, Permanganates, Molybdates, Vanadates
9. Acids (except Nitric) (Nitric Acid is isolated and stored by itself.)
10. Sulfur, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Phosphorus Pentoxide
11. Inorganic miscellaneous
Organic
1. Acids, Amino Acids, Anhydrides, Peracids
2. Alcohols, Glycols, Sugars, Amines, Amides, Imines, Imides
3. Hydrocarbons, Esters, Aldehydes, Oils
4. Ethers, Ketones, Halogenated Hydrocarbons 5. Epoxy Compounds, Isocyanates
6. Peroxides, Hydroperoxides
7. Sulfides, Polysulfides, Sulfoxides, Nitriles
8. Phenols, Cresols
9. Dyes, Stains, Indicators
10. Organic miscellaneous
1. Metals, Hydrides
NOTE: If you store volatile materials (ether, hydrocarbons, etc.) in a refrigerator, the refrigerator must be explosion-proof. The thermostat switch or light switch in a standard refrigerator may spark and set off the volatile fumes inside and thus cause an explosion.
This list is not complete and is intended only to cover the materials possibly found in an average teaching laboratory. This is not the only method of arranging these materials and is only offered as a suggestion.
See the next three pages for detailed inventory and storage steps you might follow to vastly improve the safety profile of your chemical storage.