By now most everyone knows how to use a search engine… or do we?
Chemicals can add an extra layer of complexity because there are many ways to describe the same chemical.
For example, most would call this chemical: n-Propyl Bromide.
But it also goes by:
- 106-94-5
- Propyl Bromide,
- 1-Bromopropane
- 1-Propyl Bromide
So if you have a list of chemicals, do you look under “1” or “b” or “p” or “n”?
Computer search engines don’t help much. If you search under: propyl bromide, the search engine will give you all the chemicals that contain those words, one of those words, or a larger word that contains your word. That means it should return: Ethylene Dibromide, propylene glycol, Propyl alcohol, etc. along with propyl bromide. If you search for Ethyl Alcohol, you’ll get: Methyl Alcohol, Methylene chloride, diethylamine, etc.
Here’s an example from our site. Search under propyl bromide and I get over 50 matches and the chemical you wanted is not in sight: For a larger picture
Here’s the same query, except with quotes: “Propyl Bromide”: Click to make larger
Just the chemical you wanted. Four matches.
SUGGESTIONS
- Try searching for the CAS #. Every chemical has a unique CAS #. For example, Formaldehyde is 50-00-0.
- Use quotes, “<search>”.
- Search for only words. Instead of 1-propyl bromide, o-xylene or 1,1,1-trichloromethane, search for propyl bromide, xylene or trichloromethane.
- Try synonyms. Maybe you are a bromomethane kind of a guy, but we like propyl bromide.
Nothing works all the time. Be flexible. If all else fails, give us a call.