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DEQ.utah.gov -Utah Department of Environmental Quality

The Official Web site of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality

Chemical Cleanout Toolkit
for Utah Schools

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Storage and Labeling

Storage of laboratory chemicals presents an ongoing safety hazard for schools. Many chemicals are incompatible with each other. The common method of storing these products in alphabetical order often results in incompatible neighbors. (For example, storing strong oxidizing materials next to organic chemicals can present a hazard).

One 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 linked documents below 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 you inventory into a safer and more compatible environment.

Inorganic Organic
  1. Metals, Hydrides
  2. Acetates, Halides, Iodides, Sulfates, Sulfites, Thiosulfates, Phosphates, Halogens
  3. Amides, Nitrates (except Ammonium Nitrate), Nitrites, Azides, Nitric Acid
  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
  9. Acids (except Nitric – Nitric is isolated and stored by itself.)
  10. Sulfur, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Phosphorus Pentoxide
  11. Inorganic Miscellaneous
  1. Acids, Amino Acids, Anhydrides, Peracids
  2. Alcohols, Glycols, Sugars, Amines, Amides, Imines, Imides
  3. Hydrocarbons, Esters, Aldehydes, Oils
  4. Ethers, Ketones, Ketenes, Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Ethylene Oxide
  5. Epoxy Compounds, Isocyanates
  6. Peroxides, Hydroperoxides, Azides
  7. Sulfides, Polysulfides, Sulfoxides
  8. Phenols, Cresols
  9. Dyes, Stains, Indicators
  10. Organic Miscellaneous

This list is not complete and is intended only to cover the materials possibly found in an average school situation. This is not the only method of arranging these materials and is only offered as a suggestion.

Source: Flinn Scientific

Shelf Storage Patterns & Check List

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