Guide to Library Research in Organic Chemistry
Understanding Citations | Finding Full Text of Journal Articles | Organization of Library Materials
Borrowing from Other Libraries | Citing References
One important factor in your academic and professional success will be how well you develop the ability to determine when you need information and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. In Chemistry 211 and 212 you will be required to locate physical property data, safety information, background information on techniques or procedures, and more, in order to conduct laboratory experiments and to write the associated reports. In-class library instruction sessions along with this web page will introduce you to the skills and resources you will need to complete your assignments. As your assignments and information needs become more complex, we will add relevant resources to this web page.
In addition to providing information specifically relevant to Organic Chemistry, this page provides quick access to a wealth of other resources. You should also refer to the relevant lessons in the Guide to Library Research in Science.
Remember — The primary goal of the Timken Science Library staff is to help you to develop the skills needed to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively. If you have questions, ask for assistance at one of the staffed service points, or contact us by telephone or e-mail.
Selected Reference Sources
Reference sources, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks, provide background information, terminology, and collections of data. These reference materials, often called Secondary sources, integrate and improve access to the ever-increasing body of scientific information by organizing, repackaging, and compiling and editing information which originally appeared in the primary scientific journal literature. See Descriptions of Secondary Literature Sources in Science for a list of some of the many types of reference sources that will be useful for scientific research. In addition to traditional print sources, ready-reference information is often available on the Internet.
How Do I Find Physical Property Data?
Handbooks are single- or multi-volume collections of data and descriptive text that are designed to provide quick access to useful data for experts in a particular field. Information may be presented in charts, tables, graphs, glossaries, and detailed discussions. They may also include bibliographic references to the primary literature and detailed indexes. It is important to read introductory material to the handbook or to the relevant section of the handbook for information on the source of the data, criteria for inclusion, arrangement of data, chemical names and synonyms, abbreviations, notation, chemical formulas and structures, and the availability of indexes to facilitate access. The following is a list of important handbooks and other sources of physical property data. Also included are web sites that provide important chemical data.
CRC
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics Science
Reserves QD65 .H3 2008-2009 This outstanding handbook provides the latest and most accurate ready-reference information for the chemical and physical sciences. It contains a wealth of information, including tabulated data on the physical constants of organic and inorganic compounds and a general index. Be sure to read the introductory material for each section. Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry Science Reference QD65 .L36 2005 Lange’s is a general purpose reference tool that provides access to chemical and physical data used in both the laboratory and in manufacturing. It includes frequently used constants as well as sections on atomic and molecular structure, analytical chemistry, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and thermodynamic properties. Dean’s Handbook of Organic Chemistry Science Reference QD251.3 .G65 2004 In addition to data tables, this reference contains figures, structures, discussion of methods and illustrations of data. Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals Science Reserves RS51 .M4 2006 The thirteenth edition of this one-volume reference includes more than 10,000 monographs describing a wide variety of drugs and pharmaceuticals, common organic chemicals and laboratory reagents, naturally occurring substances and plants, elements and inorganic chemicals, compounds of agricultural significance, and biological agents. Each monograph contains chemical names, alternate names and trademarks, CAS Registry Number, molecular formula, molecular weight, percent composition, literature references, structure, physical data, derivatives, use, and therapeutic category. Name, formula, Registry Number, and therapeutic category indices facilitate access. Remember to read the Explanatory Notes at the beginning of the volume. Aldrich Catalog: Handbook of Fine Chemicals Science Reserves SP101 Chemical companies provide useful information on the chemicals they sell in their catalogs. The Aldrich Catalog includes chemical names, CAS Registry Number, physical property data, Beilstein and Merck Index references, references to the Aldrich Libraries of NMR and IR spectra, and safety information. Other chemical and scientific product catalogs held on Reserve in the Timken Science Library include: Sigma: Biochemical and Reagents for Life Science Research SP17 Lancaster SP18 VWR Scientific Products Catalog SP22 Fisher Catalog SP23 Fluka: Laboratory Chemicals and Reagents SP24 Dictionary of Organic Compounds Science Reference QD246 .D5 1982 Consists of five volumes, plus a name index, molecular formula index, heteroatom index, and a CAS Registry Number index. The set is updated by ten supplements, with cumulative indexes for supplements 1-5 and 6-10. Entries are listed by DOC name and include the DOC numbers, CAS Registry Numbers, alternative names, structural formula, molecular formula, molecular weight, hazard descriptions, stereoisomers, source, physical data, toxicity, and bibliographic references. Handbook of Physical-Chemical Properties and Environmental Fate for Organic Chemicals Science Reference TD196.O73M32 2006 V. 1-4 "This handbook is a compilation of environmentally relevant physical-chemical data for similarly structured groups of substances" which aims to serve as a reference source and to illustrate the likely behavior of these chemicals as they migrate throughout the biosphere. The four volumes cover I. Introduction and Hydrocarbons II. Halogenated Hydrocarbons III. Oxygen Containing Compounds IV. Nitrogen and Sulfur Containing Compounds and Pesticides. ChemSpider ChemSpider is a chemistry search engine that aggregates and indexes chemical structures and their associated information into a single searchable repository. NIST Chemistry WebBook The NIST WebBook is “a gateway to the data collections of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.” It contains thermochemical and reaction thermochemistry data, and thermophysical property data. Sigma-Aldrich Catalog This chemical company site is a source of physical properties of chemicals, and safety information. Registration is required to view some information. |
How Do I Find Safety Information?
Nothing is more important than safety when working in a laboratory. The following print references and web sites provide essential information.
CRC
Handbook of Laboratory Safety Science
Reference QD51 .C73 1995 A comprehensive handbook which provides detailed information on all aspects of laboratory safety, such as emergency preparedness, facilities design and equipment, laboratory operations (including handling and use of chemicals), health considerations, handling spills and chemical wastes, and personal protective equipment. Laboratory Health and Safety Dictionary Science Reference QD63.5 .G67 2001 This dictionary focuses on the chemistry-related terminology of the general field of health and safety, including allied fields such as industrial hygiene, environmental health and safety, radiation safety, safety engineering, toxicology, fire safety, and occupational medicine. Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Guide Science Reference QD64 .A76 2003 This book provides information on the disposal of waste and surplus chemicals. A Comprehensive Guide to the Hazardous Properties of Chemical Substances Science Reference RA1211 .P38 1999 The objectives of this book are “(1) to present information on many aspects of hazardous properties of chemical substances., and (2) to correlate the hazardous properties of compounds to the functional groups, reactive sites, and other structural features in the molecules.” Hazardous Chemicals Desk Reference Science Reference T55.3 .H3 L49 2002 This important resource contains safety profiles, synonyms, physical property data, standards, and safety recommendations of government agencies for approximately 5000 chemicals. Where to Find Material Safety Data Sheets on the Internet This site lists more than 85 free MSDS sites on the Internet, including general sites, government agencies, chemical manufacturers and suppliers, and other miscellaneous sites. Vermont Safety Information Resources, Inc. A good place to begin a search for MSDS and related safety information. Sigma-Aldrich Catalog This chemical company site is a source of physical properties of chemicals, and safety information. Registration is required to view some information. |
How Do I Find Spectral Data?
The following are important sources of NMR and IR spectral data.
The
Aldrich Library of 13C and 1H FT NMR Spectra Science
Reference QC454 .F7 P6 v.1-3 This three-volume set of organic spectra represents chemicals listed in the Aldrich Catalog Handbook of Fine Chemicals. There are 12,000 1H 300MHz spectra and 12,000 13C 75 MHz spectra. Features of the handbook include 13C peak listings with attached proton test multiplicity, proton signal integration, substances indexed by name, molecular formula, CAS Registry Number, and Aldrich Catalog number. Substance arrangement by functional group sequence. The Aldrich Library of FT-IR Spectra Science Reference QC457 .P87 1997 v.1-3 This three-volume set contains infrared spectra for nearly 18,500 compounds listed in the Aldrich Catalog Handbook of Fine Chemicals. The compounds are arranged by functional group, and by increasing complexity within each functional group. NIST Chemistry WebBook The NIST WebBook is “a gateway to the data collections of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.” It contains thermochemical and reaction thermochemistry data, and thermophysical property data. SDBS: Integrated Spectral Data Base System for Organic Compounds SDBS, sponsored by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, is an integrated spectral database system for organic compounds, which includes six different types of spectra under a directory database of the compounds. Last updated March 30, 2001. |
How Do I Find Background Information?
Dictionaries, encyclopedias and textbooks are excellent sources of the kinds of background information you may need to begin a project, whether it is simply a definition of terms, or a more detailed explanation of a concept or procedure. Read the introductory information for advice on how to use the source to best advantage. Always use the index to determine the best terms to use, and to locate related articles within that particular source. Bibliographies included with each article will often lead you to other important primary and secondary sources. Some basic sources of background information that will be useful in this course are listed below.
Access
Science: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and
Technology Online This is the electronic access version of the 10th edition of McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, a highly technical encyclopedia in the sciences. The Web site provides fully searchable content from more than 8,500 articles in the latest edition of the encyclopedia as well as definitions from McGraw Hill’s Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, biographies of more than 2,000 scientists, bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations and a well-developed subject directory of Web links. Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology Science Reference Q123 .E497 2002 v.1-18 The purpose of this 18-volume encyclopedia is to provide university and professional level coverage of every facet of the physical sciences and technology. “Each article includes a Title and Author, Outline, Glossary, Defining Statement, Main Body of the Article, Cross References and Bibliography. The separate Index includes a complete Table of Contents, a Contents by Subject Area, a Relational Index, which presents groupings of related articles, and a detailed Subject Index.” — Preface Chemical Technician’s Ready Reference Handbook Science Reference QD61.S58 1996 Handbook for all chemical laboratory personnel and students. Designed to give each step to be followed in most conventional laboratory procedures. Includes basic laboratory mathematics, introduction to statistics, organic nomenclature and a glossary of relevant terms. Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry Science Reference QD4 .M33 1997 v.1-4 This four-volume encyclopedia contains nearly 700 articles on topics in chemistry and its subdisciplines, including biographical entries and entries on common substances. Articles are arranged alphabetically, with cross references to related topics, and bibliographic citations provide access to relevant primary literature. Volume 4 includes a comprehensive subject index. Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary Science Reference QD5 .C5 2007 Provides quick access to technical data and descriptive information on chemical substances and phenomena, covering industrial chemicals, nomenclature, processes, reactions, products, and related terminology. More than a dictionary, Hawley’s indentifies thousands of chemical substances and includes names, physical properties, sources of occurrence, chemical formula, safety information and more. IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (The Gold Book) This browsable, searchable, interactive version of The Gold Book provides standardized definitions of the terminology used to describe chemical concepts. It provides both alphabetical and thematic indexes as well as an extensive listing of IUPAC source publications. Each entry contains interactive maps of broader and narrower terms. Organic Chemistry Science QD253 .J65 and disc This textbook by Maitland Jones, Jr. provides a broad introduction to organic chemistry. Wikipedia According to information posted on its Web site, “Wikipedia is first and foremost an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, an online community of people interested in building a high-quality encyclopedia in a spirit of mutual respect.” Anyone can contribute a new article, or edit an existing article. The online encyclopedia contains information on almost any topic. It is updated immediately so that the information is very current. Caution! Wikipedia’s strength is also its weakness. Because anyone can edit almost any page, it is essential that users confirm information in other sources to ensure reliability. Wade’s Companion Web Site An online guide to supplement the Organic Chemistry textbook. |
How Do I Find Other Possible Sources of Information?
Guides to the literature are reference books that describe the types of literature available in a field and list important examples of each. Similarly, Web sites often serve as gateways to a wealth of information in a particular field of study.
Information
Sources in Chemistry Science
Reference QD8.5 .I47 1993 Covers the types of information sources available in chemistry, as well as the most important individual sources in each chemistry discipline. How to Find Chemical Information: A Guide for Practicing Chemists, Educators, and Students Science Reference QD8.5 M34 1998 Quoting from the preface, this guide “discusses, explains, and places into perspective for the reader all the major types of sources of chemical information: printed materials of all types, traditional online tools, compact disks, the internet, and other sources, including those of an informal nature.” Organic Chemistry Resources Worldwide The mission of this site is to collect and annotate useful organic chemistry Web sites. Resources are divided into sections on the literature, laboratory resources, spectroscopy and spectrometry, nomenclature and teaching, and conferences and organizations. WEB-ster’s Organic Chemistry: A Living Document of Internet Resources, Information, and Applications Provides links to many categories of information that will be of use to organic chemists, including atomic and molecular orbitals, spectroscopy, chemical toxicity and safety, nomenclature, synthesis and reaction mechanisms, and much more. American Chemical Society Web sites of professional organizations often provide a gateway to important information in the field. In addition to information about the organization itself, the American Chemical Society’s Web site provides access to all kinds of chemical news and information for professionals, teachers and students, policymakers, and enthusiasts. |
Searching Library Catalogs
CONSORT includes the merged catalogs of The College of Wooster, Denison University, Kenyon College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. From the CONSORT catalog Basic Search screen, you can search the merged catalog or you can select the individual catalog of one of the CONSORT colleges. The CONSORT catalog can be searched by Author, Title, Journal Title, Keywords, Subject Headings and various identification numbers. The Basic Search screen also provides access to course Reserve records and allows individuals to view their personal circulation records using the MY CONSORT tab. The Search OhioLINK button connects directly to the OhioLINK catalog main menu. For more information, see Lesson 6: Searching Library Catalogs in the Guide to Library Research in Science.
Finding Citations to Articles in Periodicals
Journal articles are usually considered the most important primary source of information in science. They serve the three major functions of establishing intellectual property, evaluating work through the peer-review process and serving as a vehicle for disseminating information.
Selected Databases for Research in Science provides a listing of the science-related databases that may be useful when searching for information in chemistry. The Libraries’ Databases by Title page provides access to all databases available to the College community. Online help is available within each search system and database. Some of the general and scientific databases available at the College of Wooster for researching the chemical literature are listed below. For more information, see Lesson 7: Finding Citations to Articles in Periodicals in the Guide to Library Research in Science.
| Academic
Search Complete [EBSCOhost] Provides indexing to 4,360 scholarly journals, popular magazines and journals of commentary, including access to full text articles from nearly 3,500 scholarly publications in most areas of study and research. NOTE: Use the Safari Browser with Academic Search Complete and other EBSCOhost databases Science Citation Index Expanded [ISI] This multidisciplinary database covering the journal literature of science provides basic subject and author searching as well as cited reference searching, which permits searching the database for articles that cite a known author or work. Google Scholar The Google Scholar search engine locates scholarly literature from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web. Results are ranked by relevance, taking into account the full text of each article as well as the article’s author, the publication in which the article appeared and how often it has been cited in scholarly literature. Search results may include citations of older works and seminal articles that appear only in books or other offline publications. |
Understanding Citations
Print and electronic bibliographic databases or bibliographies from books or periodical articles will provide references to many types of literature on your topic. It is sometimes difficult to tell whether a citation refers you to a book, a book chapter, a periodical article, or some other type of document. See Lesson 8: Understanding Citations in the Guide to Library Research in Science for guidance with regard to deciphering citations found in bibliographies and databases.
Finding Full Text of Journal Articles
Once you have retrieved citations to relevant articles from print indexes and abstracts, electronic research databases, bibliographies and other sources, you will need to determine whether they are available at the College of Wooster, and how to access them. See Lesson 9: Finding Full Text of Journal Articles in the Guide to Library Research in Science for additional information.
Organization of Library Materials
The Library of Congress Classification System organizes materials by subject. A unique call number is assigned to each item and materials are shelved so that books dealing with the same subject are shelved together. Familiarity with the LC classification system allows library users to browse the shelves for material on a topic. See Lesson 4: Organization of Library Materials in the Guide to Library Research in the Sciences for more information about the Library of Congress Classification System and locations of materials in the Timken Science Library.
Borrowing from Other Libraries
One of the advantages of membership in the CONSORT and OhioLINK consortia is that College of Wooster students have access to the resources of many academic libraries, large and small, in the state of Ohio. And, if the materials you need cannot be found in Ohio, we can usually obtain them from outside the state. To learn how to borrow materials from other libraries, see Interlibrary Loan and Lesson 11: Borrowing from Other Libraries in the Guide to Library Research in Science.
Citing References
Style manuals assist a researcher in all aspects of the production of a research paper. The most important style manual for chemistry is listed below.
| The ACS Style Guide: Effective
Communication of Scientific Information Science
Reserves QD8.5 .A25 2006 This writer’s guide for chemists includes chapters on the scientific paper, grammar and style, copyrights and the oral presentation of science. The third edition also includes new chapters on ethics in scientific communication; submitting manuscripts via the Web; markup language; preparing and submitting publisher-ready figures, tables and chemical structures; and formatting manuscript references to electronic resources. In addition, Nan Butkovich at Pennsylvania State University has prepared A Quick Guide to Citing Using the ACS Style Guide, Third Edition. This pdf document is a handy supplement to the ACS Style Guide. |
