A chemical directory can come in one of two different
flavours, technical and commercial.
Technically-Oriented Chemical Directories
This kind of chemical directory allows finding a chemical by
its molecular formula, common name, or other technical specification. It is a
directory for those with technical familiarity of chemicals.
Once you specify a name, formula etc. the directory takes
you to a page that lists the chemicals meeting the search criteria. Against
each, supplier names are also given. You can then get more details of a
particular supplier, or a particular chemical.
Links would also be available for getting an offer from a
particular supplier for a chemical.
Such a technically oriented chemical directories would
typically have other technical features, such as chemical calculators that
calculates different properties such as molecular mass from a formula or other
information.
Another valuable technical feature is a property explorer
that calculates drug-relevant properties from valid chemical structures. This
helps identify high-risk side effects of the structure. You can identify
toxicity for example.
Commercially Oriented Chemical Directories
This kind of directory lists suppliers of particular chemicals
in a conventional manner. For example, you can find suppliers for absorbents,
acids and so on in alphabetical order. Some directories might also allow you to
find suppliers in different countries.
Forwarding a request for quotation - RFQ - to suppliers is a
facility that a chemical directory might offer. At least one directory allows
you to send enquiries wholesale to many suppliers with just one RFQ form. You
can select the companies you want the RFQ to be sent.
There are also chemical suppliers’ databases in print and
computer-readable media formats. You can buy these databases against payment.
Alternatively, you might pay a monthly or such fee and access their online
databases.
While some directories charge the buyers to access their databases
of suppliers, others might allow free access to buyers and charge sellers for
including their information. In the latter case, only those sellers who pay for
inclusion might be included in the directory, i.e., it would be a less
comprehensive directory than the other kind.
Regional Chemical Directories
Regional chemical directories seek to promote the chemical
industries of different regions. It would also help buyers to find sources near
them or low-cost suppliers from all over the world. For examples, lower-cost
manufacturers in, say, India and China can supply chemicals that meet
specifications at lower costs.
Conclusion
The chemical industry is discovering new formulations
continuously. The chemicals have different properties and effects. Many might
be drugs that can have side effects along with specific curative properties.
To serve users in this industry, chemical directories need
to incorporate some unique features. Thus, you can find directories where you
can search for chemicals by their molecular formula or CAS number, as well as
by name.
The technically oriented directories might also provide
chemical calculators and details of reactions based on the chemical structure.
Then there is the conventional chemical directory where you
find suppliers for each kind of chemical, whom you can contact directly or
through the directory publishers.
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