Brethericks Reactive Chemical Hazards Database - Version 3.0
by Peter Urben
Category: Science

'Bretherick' is widely accepted as the reference work on reactive chemical hazards and is essential for all those working with chemicals. It attempts to include every chemical for which documented information on reactive hazards has been found. The content covers over 5000 elements or compounds and as many again of secondary entries involving two or more compounds. One of its most valuable features is the extensive cross-referencing the data, which links similar compounds or incidents, which are not obviously related. This new version of the database has been developed using the widely-used and highly-regarded FOLIO VIEWS environment. This offers unparalleled searching strengths by a variety of textual means, which the user can select and modify. It is also possible to bookmark or append entries and to customise the data set according to the user's own research or experience. Also new for this version is the incorporation of HDS' PSI structure searching software, which is integral to the product. Every chemical included has an associated structure, and by using the PSI software it is now possible to search the data-set for other entries which have the same or similar reactive groups, or structures which the user may suspect of being the cause of a particular hazardous reactive trait. This is obviously an especially valuable facility where a given chemical is not included in the database or indeed the literature, but similar compounds or chemicals may be located and evaluated. The majority of the data is devoted to specific information on the stability of the listed compounds, or the reactivity of mixtures of two or more of them under various circumstances. Each compound is identified by an IUPAC-based name, the CAS registry number, its empirical formula and its structure; all of which may be made the subject of search criteria. Each description of an incident or violent reaction gives reference to the original literature. Each chemical is classified on the basis of similarities in structure or reactivity, and these groups are also included. The group entries contain a complete listing of all the compounds, which have their own unique entries and are assigned to that group, to assist cross referral to similar compounds. Naturally these are all hot-linked, and there is also a set of general hazard topic entries.