Compatibility Checker
Cross-reference two chemicals for storage and reaction incompatibilities.
How to use this tool
Check whether two chemicals are safe to store together or dangerous to mix. Enter any two substances, the tool sorts each into a reactivity class and flags any reaction that would generate heat, toxic gas, fire or explosion.
What to enter
- Chemical A and Chemical B: type any chemical name (or pick a suggestion). Common reagents classify instantly; for anything else, click Look up to pull its GHS classification from PubChem and suggest a reactivity class.
- Reactivity class: the suggested class (strong acid, oxidiser, water-reactive…) is always editable. Confirm or change it before reading the verdict; the auto-suggestion is a starting point, not the last word.
Reading the result
You get one of three verdicts, ✓ Compatible, ⚠ Caution, or ✕ Incompatible: with the specific hazard and the two reactivity classes named. The note shows where each class came from (curated list, PubChem GHS, or your own choice). A "compatible" result still assumes proper, separate containment; it is not a green light to mix in bulk.
Worked example
Hydrochloric acid + sodium hypochlorite (bleach) returns ✕ Incompatible, the acid liberates toxic chlorine gas from the hypochlorite.
Compatibility
Three verdicts: ✓ compatible, ⚠ caution (mix only deliberately, dilute and with cooling), ✕ incompatible (keep separated). The reason names the specific hazard and the two reactivity classes matched. This is a class-level screen for storage segregation, always confirm against each substance's SDS, and a ✓ never means safe to combine in bulk.
How it works
Each chemical is mapped to a reactivity class, then the two classes are cross-referenced against a rule set derived from standard segregation guidance (incompatible pairings produce heat, toxic gas, fire or explosion). A curated list of common reagents carries hand-verified classes; for any other substance, the tool queries PubChem's published GHS Classification through a same-origin proxy and suggests a class from the hazard (H) codes and the chemical's name. The cross-reference rule set itself is fixed and curated, only the class assignment is automated, and it stays editable. A “compatible” result still assumes proper containment, it is not a licence to mix.
Sources
- Reactivity-class suggestions: PubChem GHS Classification (via a same-origin proxy) plus name heuristics; always confirm against the SDS.
- Cross-reference rules: EPA Chemical Compatibility Chart; CAMEO Chemicals reactivity groups; NFPA 400; OSHA 1910.106 storage segregation.