EXPLANATORY NOTES

The entries in this volume are of two distinct types, each accounting for about half of the total of almost 700 entries. The first type of entry gives general information on the hazardous behaviour of some recognisably discrete classes or groups of the more than 5000 individual compounds for which details are given in Volume 1.

Where possible, a general structural formula ranged right on the title line indicates the typical structure(s) of the members of each class of group of compounds. In these formulae, the following general symbols are used in addition to the usual symbols for the elements.

• Ar = AROMATIC nucleus

• E = NON-METALLIC element

• M = METALLIC element

• R = organic RESIDUE

• X = HALOGEN

• Z = non-halogen ANION species

Information on the derivation of the class and group names is given in the Introduction.

The second type of entry concerns reactive hazard topics, techniques or incidents which have a common theme or pattern of behaviour involving compounds of several different groups, so that no common structural feature exists for the compounds involved.

The more than 300 group-lists of compounds in the first type of entry serve as an index to analogues and homologues of a compound falling within the scope of the structural or behavioural group. Those compounds (congeners) of generally similar, but not identical structure to the majority in the group-lists are prefixed *. Flammable analogues are prefixed to remind of the fire hazard. For flammable...