“Safe Chemical Storage in Laboratories: Tips for Keeping Your Workplace Secure”
Chemical storage is a critical component of laboratory safety, and it’s essential to ensure that chemicals are stored together based on their compatibility or incompatibility. By storing chemicals properly, we can reduce the risk of accidents, prevent injuries, and minimize damage to laboratory equipment & facilities. In this blog, we’ll explore why it’s essential to store chemicals based on compatibility & provide some examples of compatible & incompatible chemicals.
Why is it important to store chemicals based on compatibility or incompatibility?
Incompatible chemicals can react with each other in dangerous & unpredictable ways, leading to fires, explosions, or toxic gas releases. These reactions can be triggered by various factors such as heat, friction, light, or exposure to air or water. Therefore, it’s essential to store chemicals that are incompatible with each other separately to prevent them from coming into contact.
Storing chemicals based on compatibility also allows laboratory personnel to manage the risks associated with chemical hazards more effectively. For example, flammable chemicals should be stored away from ignition sources, while corrosive chemicals should be stored in materials that are resistant to their effects. By storing chemicals together based on their compatibility, laboratory personnel can quickly & easily identify the hazards associated with each chemical and take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents.
Examples of compatible and incompatible chemicals:
Acids & bases are examples of incompatible chemicals that should be stored separately. Acids can react with bases to form salts & water, releasing heat in the process. For example, hydrochloric acid (HCl) & sodium hydroxide (NaOH) can react to form sodium chloride (NaCl) & water (H2O):
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O
On the other hand, bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and ammonia are also incompatible chemicals that should be stored separately. When mixed, they can react to form toxic gases such as chloramine & nitrogen trichloride, which can be harmful to human health. The reaction between bleach & ammonia can be represented as follows:
NaOCl + NH3 → NH2Cl + NaOH
Other examples of incompatible chemicals include hydrogen peroxide & copper, which can react to form copper oxide & water, and chlorine & organic materials such as paper, wood, or grease, which can react to form explosive compounds.
In contrast, compatible chemicals such as water and ethanol, or water and sodium chloride, can be stored together without significant risks. Some chemicals can also be stored together if they are separated by appropriate barriers or materials, such as acids & flammable solvents.
Peroxides and organic materials – Peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide can react with organic materials such as paper, wood, or cotton to form explosive compounds. Therefore, it’s important to store peroxides away from organic materials or use specialized storage techniques such as refrigeration or inert gas storage.
Strong oxidizers and reducing agents – Strong oxidizers such as potassium permanganate can react with reducing agents such as sulfur, phosphorous, or organic compounds to produce heat, flames, or toxic gases. Examples of incompatible chemicals in this category include sodium nitrate & sulfur, hydrogen peroxide & iron.
Flammable liquids and oxidizing gases – When oxidizing gases like oxygen or chlorine are present, flammable liquids like gasoline or ethanol may catch fire. As a result, it’s critical to maintain flammable liquids distant from oxidizing gases or other potential ignition sources.
Strong acids and metal powders – Strong acids such as sulfuric acid can react with metal powders such as aluminum or magnesium to produce hydrogen gas, which can be explosive or flammable. Therefore, it’s important to store strong acids away from metal powders or use specialized storage techniques such as cooling or ventilation.
Water-reactive materials – Some chemicals such as lithium or sodium are highly reactive with water and can ignite or release toxic gases upon contact. Therefore, it’s important to store water-reactive materials away from water sources or use specialized storage techniques such as inert gas storage or oil-immersed storage.
Strong acids and strong bases – Strong acids such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4) can react with strong bases such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce salts & water, releasing heat in the process. These reactions can be exothermic & potentially dangerous, so it’s important to store strong acids and strong bases separately.
Acids and metals – Acids such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid (HNO3) can react with metals such as magnesium, zinc, or aluminum to produce hydrogen gas, which can be explosive or flammable. It’s important to store acids & metals separately to avoid these reactions.
Chlorinated solvents and strong bases – Chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) or trichloroethylene (C2HCl3) can react with strong bases such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to produce toxic gases such as phosgene (COCl2) or hydrogen chloride (HCl). It’s important to store chlorinated solvents away from strong bases or other materials that can react with them.
Flammable liquids and strong oxidizers – Flammable liquids such as ethanol or acetone can react with strong oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid to produce heat or flames. It’s important to store flammable liquids away from strong oxidizers or other sources of ignition.
Peroxides and acids – Peroxides such as diethyl ether or acetone peroxide can react with acids such as sulfuric acid or nitric acid to produce heat, flames, or explosive decomposition. It’s important to store peroxides away from acids or other materials that can react with them.
Strong acids and cyanides – Poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas can be created when cyanides react with strong acids like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. To avoid accident/unintentional mixing, it’s crucial to store strong acids separately from cyanides or to employ specific storage methods.
Inorganic acids and organic compounds – Inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid can react with organic compounds such as solvents, oils, or plastics to produce heat, flames, or toxic gases. It’s important to store inorganic acids away from organic compounds or use specialized storage techniques to prevent accidental mixing.
Alkali metals and water – Alkali metals such as sodium or potassium can react violently with water to produce hydrogen gas, which can be explosive or flammable. It’s important to store alkali metals away from water or use specialized storage techniques such as oil-immersed storage or inert gas storage.
Acids and bases with different strengths – Acids and bases with different strengths can react with each other to produce heat, flames, or toxic gases. For example, hydrochloric acid can react with ammonia to produce ammonium chloride and heat. It’s important to store acids & bases with different strengths away from each other or use specialized storage techniques to prevent accidental mixing.
Peroxides and sulfuric acid – Sulfuric acid can react with peroxides such as diethyl ether to produce heat, flames, or explosive decomposition. It’s important to store peroxides away from sulfuric acid or use specialized storage techniques such as refrigeration or inert gas storage.
In general, it’s important to consult the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or other reference materials for each chemical and follow safe storage practices to minimize the risks associated with incompatible chemicals. Proper storage of chemicals can help ensure the safety of laboratory personnel and prevent accidents, incidents, and regulatory violations.
Conclusion:
It’s essential to store chemicals together in laboratories based on their compatibility or incompatibility to minimize the risk of accidents, protect laboratory personnel, and comply with regulatory requirements. By understanding the properties of chemicals and following safe storage practices, laboratory personnel can reduce the risks associated with chemical hazards & create a safer laboratory environment.