- Acids with cyanide salts or cyanide solution. Generates highly toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.
- Acids with sulfide salts or sulfide solutions. Generates highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.
- Acids with bleach. Generates highly toxic chlorine gas.
- Oxidizing acids (e.g., nitric acid, perchloric acid) with combustible materials (e.g., paper, alchohols, other common solvents). May result in fire.
- Solid oxidizers (e.g., permanganates, iodates, nitrates) with combustible materials (e.g., paper, alchohols, other common solvents). May result in fire.
- Hydrides (e.g., sodium hydride) with water. May form flammable hydrogen gas.
- Phosphides (e.g., sodium phosphide) with water. May form highly toxic phosphine gas.
- Silver salts with ammonia in the presence of a strong base. May generate an explosively unstable solid.
- Alkali metals (e.g., sodium, potassium) with water. May form flammable hydrogen gas.
- Oxidizing agents (e.g., nitric acid) with reducing agents (e.g., hydrazine). May cause fires or explosions.
- Unsaturated compounds (e.g., substances containing carbonyls or double bonds) in the presence of acids or bases. May polymerize violently.
- Hydrogen peroxide/acetone mixtures when heated in the presence of an acid. May cause explosions.
- Hydrogen peroxide/acetic acid mixtures. May explode upon heating.
- Hydrogen peroxide/sulfuric acid mixtures. May spontaneously detonate.
Do you know of other chemical incompatibilities that you would like to see listed here? Please feel free to e-mail me at chemistry.guide@about.com with suggestions.
