Tool 05

Chemical compatibility.

Five labware materials against fifteen common reagents. Click a row for the failure chemistry — a traffic light without a reason is just decoration.

Reagent	Borosilicate 3.3	Fused quartz	Glazed porcelain	Polypropylene (PP)	PTFE
Hydrochloric acid (conc.)	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Sulfuric acid (conc., hot)	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Avoid	Excellent
Nitric acid (conc.)	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Limited	Excellent
Hydrofluoric acid (any conc.)	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Good	Excellent
Phosphoric acid (hot, >100 °C)	Limited	Limited	Good	Good	Excellent
Sodium hydroxide (conc., hot)	Limited	Avoid	Limited	Excellent	Excellent
Ammonia solution	Good	Good	Good	Excellent	Excellent
Acetone / ketones	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Limited	Excellent
Chloroform / chlorinated solvents	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Avoid	Excellent
Toluene / aromatics	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Limited	Excellent
Ethanol / alcohols	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Hydrogen peroxide (30 %)	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Good	Excellent
Aqua regia	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Avoid	Excellent
DMSO / polar aprotics	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Limited	Excellent
Molten salts / fusions	Avoid	Limited	Limited	Avoid	Limited

Borosilicate 3.3

max temp

500 °C (450 °C sustained)

Fused quartz

max temp

1100 °C sustained

Glazed porcelain

max temp

1050 °C ignition

Polypropylene (PP)

max temp

121 °C autoclave / 135 °C brief

PTFE

max temp

250 °C sustained

Ratings assume room temperature and standard concentrations unless noted, and are guidance — not a substitute for your own risk assessment. For an unusual reagent, temperature or duty cycle, ask us: materials advice is free and occasionally saves a fume hood.