Energy release rate 478 INDEX

In addition to the hazards due to the toxic effects of chemicals, hazards due to flammability, explosibility, and reactivity need to be considered in risk assessment. These hazards are described in detail in the following sections. Further information can be found in Bretherick s Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards (Bretherick, 1990), an extensive compendium that is the basis for the lists of incompatible chemicals included in various reference works. Bretherick describes computational protocols that consider thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of a system to arrive at quantitative measures such as the Reaction Hazard Index (RHI). So-called "reactive" hazards arise when the release of energy from a chemical reaction occurs in quantities or at rates too great for the energy to be absorbed by the immediate environment of the reacting system, and material damage results. In addition, the "Letters to the Editor" column of Chemical Engineering News routinely reports incidents with explosive reaction mixtures or conditions. 

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