Lower Division Biology Chemical List
This is a list of the chemicals used in the Lower Division Biology Laboratory Program at Texas
A&M University . You may handle many of these chemicals either alone or in solution in your
role as student, instructor or technician. Check the course list at each entry to see if it may apply
to you. Most entries are linked to electronic Material Safety Data Sheets or Chemical
Information sheets maintained at other web sites. The hazard summary section of the online
manual lists the essential safety information for each hazardous chemical in use in the Lower
Division Biology Program. A MSDS set is included in the Safety Reference Manual in the
hallway outside of Heldenfels room 310. Chemicals listed as not hazardous are not on the
inventory of hazardous chemicals. However, they are probable irritants if inhaled, ingested, or if
they contact mucous membranes or eyes. We recommend you treat all chemicals as if they are
hazardous and take appropriate precautions.
Acetic Acid, glacial - corrosive, flammable [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Aceto-carmine - corrosive, possible biohazard [Biology 107, 111, 123]
Aceto-orcein - corrosive, possible biohazard [Biology 107, 111, 123]
Acetone - flammable [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Agar - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Agarose - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112]
Alanine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Albumin, bovine - not hazardous [Biology 107, 111, 112, 123]
Albumin, egg - not hazardous [Biology 107, 111, 112, 123]
Ammonium chloride - poison [Biology 111]
Ammonium hydroxide - poisonous corrosive - [Biology 111]
Ascorbic acid -not hazardous [Biology 111]
Aspartic acid - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Bacterotryptone - not hazardous [Biology 112]
Benedict's reagent - slightly corrosive [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Bile Salts - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Biuret - corrosive poison [Biology 111, 123]
Bleach - corrosive [all lab courses]
Boric Acid - irritant, poison [Biology 101, 111]
Bromophenol blue - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111]
Bromothymol blue - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Calcium carbonate - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Calcium chloride - corrosive acid, possible mutagen [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Carmine - irritant, possible biohazard [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Caro-Safe - proprietary not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Catechol - poison [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Charcoal, activated - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Chelex - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Chloroform - poison, possible carcinogen [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Congo Red - not hazardous [Biology 111, 123]
Coomassie Blue - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Creatinine - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112]
Crystal Violet (= Gentian Violet) - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111]
Cupric sulfate - possible copper poison [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Cystine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Detergent, germicidal - corrosive [all lab courses]
Dextrose (see Glucose) - not hazardous
Dichloroindophenol - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Diethyl ether - flammable, forms explosive peroxides [Biology 101, 111, 123]
EcoR1 - not hazardous alone -- makes transgenic waste [Biology 111]
Electrode paste - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Eosin B - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) - flammable [all lab courses]
Ethidium bromide - mutagen, possible carcinogen [Biology 101, 111]
Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, disodium salt (EDTA) - not hazard [Biol. 101, 111, 112]
Ethylene glycol - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
F.A.A. (formalin-acetic acid) - poisonous corrosive [Biology 101, 112]
Formaldehyde , Poisonous corrosive, carcinogen [Biology 101, 107, 112, 123]
Gelatin - not hazardous [Biology 112, 123]
Gentian Violet (see Crystal Violet)
Gibberellic acid - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Glucose (=Dextrose) - not hazardous [Biology 101, 107, 111, 123]
Glycerol (=Glycerine) - not hazardous [Biology 101, 107, 112]
Glycine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Hemoglobin - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
HindIII - not hazardous alone -- makes transgenic waste [Biology 111]
HindIII-HaeIII - not hazardous alone - makes transgenic waste [Biology 111]
Hydrochloric Acid - poisonous corrosive [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Hydrochloric Acid (1N) - poisonous corrosive [Biology 111, 112, 123]
Immersion oil - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Indole acetic acid (IAA) - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Janus Green B - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Lanolin - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Lugol's (IKI) - poison - [all lab courses]
Lysine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Magnesium chloride - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Magnesium sulfate - not hazardous [Biology 112]
Malonic acid (malonate) - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Maltose - not hazardous [Biology 112, 123]
Marble chips - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Methanol - flammable poison [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Methionine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Methyl cellulose - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Methylene Blue - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Nasco-guard - proprietary not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Neutral Red - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Neutrasorb - acid spill neutralizer [all lab courses]
Ninhydrin - poisonous fumes [Biology 111, 112, 123]
Nutrient Agar - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Nutrient broth - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Pepsin - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Petroleum ether - flammable [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Phenolpthalein - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111]
Phenol red - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Phenylalanine - not hazardous [Biology 111]
Polyethylene glycol - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112]
Potassium chloride - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Potassium hydrogen phthalate - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111]
Potassium hydroxide - corrosive poison [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Potassium iodate - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Potassium iodide - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Potassium permaganate - strong oxidizer [Biology 107, 111, 123]
Potassium phosphate, dibasic - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112]
Potassium phosphate, monobasic - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112]
Proline - not hazardous [Biology 111, 123]
Propylene glycol - not hazardous [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Quinine sulfate - not hazardous [Biology 112, 123]
Safranine O - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Silica gel type G - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Sodium bicarbonate - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Sodium chloride - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (=Sodium laurel sulfate) - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Sodium hydroxide - poisonous corrosive [Biology 101, 111, 112, 123]
Sodium hypochlorite (see bleach) - corrosive [all lab courses]
Sodium lauryl sulfate (=Sodium dodecyl sulfate) - not hazardous [Biology 101]
Sodium phosphate, dibasic - irritant [Biology 101, 111]
Sodium phosphate, monobasic - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111]
Starch soluble - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Succinate (succinic acid) - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Sucrose - not hazardous [all lab courses]
Sudan IV - not hazardous [Biology 111, 123]
Sulfuric acid - poisonous corrosive [Technical staff only]
Tetrazolium - mildly poisonous [Biology 101, 111, 123]
Toluidine Blue O - not hazardous [Biology 101, 112]
Tris - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112]
Tris-HCL - not hazardous [Biology 101, 111, 112]
Tryptone - not hazardous [Biology 101, 112]
Urea - Irritant [Biology 107, 112, 123]
Xylene - flammable [Technical Staff only]
Yeast extract - not hazardous [Biology 112]
Return to Table of Contents
Please email if you have any problem making links. See copyright notice on Table of Contents page. Last Updated January 14, 2009 by Tonna Harris-Haller