Stainless steel is a widely used material in the lab due to the perception that it is relatively inert and resistant to chemicals. The researcher must use caution, however, in that neither assumption is completely true. With regard to chemical resistance, it is called 'stain less' not 'unstainable' for a reason; it will stain under the right exposure conditions. Knowing this, you should immediately question the assumption of inertness. There are certainly components of stainless steel (most notably chromium) that will leach under aggressive conditions and these components may confound experimental results.
The lesson? Be sure to consider the experimental system and conditions carefully with regard to material compatibility. If you're not sure whether stainless steel is the right choice, just ask us.
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