In the process of providing assistance to schools under the New Hampshire Pollution Prevention in Schools Project, NHPPP has classified over 250 science laboratory chemicals for proper disposal. The list of examples below is provided for schools to recognize that chemical classification is one of the first steps taken in the disposal process. Changes in government regulations can effect a change in a chemical’s classification, which will subsequently effect the list below. Should your school be in need of disposing of laboratory chemicals, NHPPP is available to assist you.
NHPPP used a variety of technical resources to develop the chemical classifications listed below. Such resources included a review of the chemical classification under RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) and DOT (Department of Transportation), the pH of the compound, and the chemical’s properties of reactivity, flammability, and toxicity. A chemical’s incompatibilities were also noted.
| Chemical | Classification |
|---|---|
| Acetamide | Corrosive solid acid |
| Alum-ammonium | Corrosive solid |
| Ammonium bichromate | Oxidizer solid |
| Ammonium molybdate | Corrosive solid acid |
| Ammonium thiocyanate | Poison solid |
| Barium acetate | Poison solid |
| Boric acid | Corrosive solid acid |
| Calomel | Poison solid |
| Congo red | Flammable liquid |
| Cupric bromide | Corrosive solid |
| Ferric nitrate | Oxidizer solid |
| Gastric juice | Corrosive liquid |
| Lead acetate | Poison solid |
| Magnesium sulfate | Solid acid |
| Mercuric chloride | Poison solid acid |
| Mercurous nitrate | Oxidizer solid |
| Naphthalene flakes | Flammable solid |
| Nessler’s Solution | Corrosive liquid |
| Nickel sulfate | Poison solid base |
| Phenol | Flammable (poison) liquid |
| Potassium cyanide | Poison liquid |
| Potassium oxalate | Corrosive solid acid |
| Sodium ferrocyanide | Poison solid |
| Sodium nitrate | Oxidizer solid |
| Sodium tartrate | Flammable solid |
| Sulfosalicylic acid | Corrosive solid acid |
| Thiourea | Poison solid |
| Thymol iodide | Flammable solid |
| Uranyl acetate | Radioactive |
| Zinc nitrate | Oxidizer |