Chemistry Research Guide

This guide is the starting point for identifying, locating, using, and evaluating  materials relating to Chemistry in the Carmichael Library and on Internet.  If you need additional assistance, please Ask a Librarian or contact Jason Cooper, Technical Services Librarian, at cooperjd@montevallo.edu or (205) 665-6114.

Finding Library Materials     
Library Catalog
The Library Catalog is often the best place to begin research. Search by author, title, subject, keyword, or a variety of other specialized searches.

Several examples of standard Chemistry subject headings appropriate for use in the Main Catalog when searching for Chemistry materials are:

• Chemistry
• Chemistry -- Notation (Subject heading CHEMISTRY and the Subdivision NOTATION)
• Physical Sciences (Broader Topic) 
• Biochemistry (Narrower Topic)

To obtain an authoritative list of subject headings check the Library of Congress Subject Headings, near the Ask Here desk.

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Call Numbers
Carmichael Library uses the Library of Congress system to organize its materials.  Chemistry materials, and other related subjects, can be found in these call number ranges:

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Reference Materials
Reference materials include dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and indexes.  They are good starting points in the research process.

Several examples of Chemistry reference materials available for use in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, Ref. Q 121 .M3 1992
• Scientific Laws, Principles, and Theories: A Reference Guide, Ref. Q 158.5 .K74 2001
• Magill's Survey of Science, Ref. Q 158.5 .M34 1992
• International Critical Tables, Ref. Q 199 .N32
• Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry, Ref. QD 4 .A2313 1994
• Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Ref. QD 4 .M33 1997
• Dictionary of Chemistry, Ref. QD 5 .H837 1994
• How to Find Chemical Information, Ref. QD 8.5 .M34 1998
• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Ref. QD 65 .H3
• Dictionary of Organic Compounds, Ref. QD 251 .D49 1965
• Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Ref. QD 262 .F5
• Concise Encyclopedia Biochemistry, Ref. QD 415 .A25 B713 1998
• Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Ref. QD 415 .A25 O94 2000
• Biochemistry of Human Nutrition, Ref. QP 141 .H338 1987
• Dictionary of Biochemistry, Ref. QP 512 .S73
• Color Atlas of Biochemistry, Ref. QP 514.2 K6613 1996
• Handbook of Biochemistry, Ref. QP 516 H3 1970
• The Merck Index, 13th ed., Ref. RS 51 .M4 2001
• Gardner's Chemical Synonyms and Trade Names, Ref. TP 9 .G286 1987
• The Chemical Formulary, Ref. TP 151 .B35

Be sure to check the Reference databases for electronic reference materials.

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Journals and Periodicals
Journals and periodicals are published at regular intervals in print and electronically.

Print Chemistry periodicals available in the Carmichael Library include the following:

• Chemical Educator
• Journal of Chemical Education
• Nature
• New Scientist
• Science
• Scientific American
• Weatherwise

The following searches may also be helpful in finding electronic journals in the catalog:

• Chemistry - Periodicals (Subject alphabetical search)
• chemistry periodicals (General keyword search)

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Electronic Resources
Databases

Electronic access to journal articles is available from the Databases  page.  Most databases can be searched using author, title or subject in either basic or advanced search formats. The results of a search will include either a citation, a citation and abstract, or a citation, abstract and full text of the article depending on the database searched.

Listed below are databases you could use to locate information about Chemistry.  You can access these, and other databases, from the Databases by name page or the Databases by subject page.

• ACS Publications Full Text  

Includes 30 magazines and peer-reviewed journals published by the American Chemical Society

• Chemical Abstracts Full Text

Covers the primary literature of all areas of chemistry, including journals, dissertations, technical reports, patents, and conference proceedings since 1967. Contact Dr. Houston Byrd for access to this resource

• PubMed Central Full Text

The National Library of Medicine's digital archive of life sciences journal literature; includes full text of over 80 titles

• PubChem

A freely available database from the National Center for Biotechnology Information; includes graphic representations of compounds and substances

 

Additional information about specific databases is available at each database site. 

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Internet Links
Several recognized Chemistry sites are listed below:

• The Analytical Chemistry Springboard
• Chemistry.org: Website of the American Chemical Society
• Electrochemistry Dictionary
• Metabolic Pathways of Biochemistry
• Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Information
• NIST Chemistry WebBook 
• Organic Chemistry Resources Worldwide
• Organic Compounds Database
• Organic Structure Elucidation
• Protein Data Bank
• Webelements Periodic Table
• Webspectra: Problems in NMR and IR Spectroscopy
• WWW Chemistry Guide

Follow these links to Graduate Chemistry programs across the country:

• The Chemistry Advisor: A List of Top Programs
• Gradschools.com: Chemistry Graduate School Directories
• WWW Chemistry Sites at Academic Institutions

Graduate Chemistry programs in Alabama:

• Auburn University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• University of Alabama, Department of Chemistry
• University of Alabama - Birmingham, Chemistry Department

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Additional Resources
Associations
Associations provide a forum for the exchange of ideas within a profession.  Listed below are the names of a few Chemistry associations.

• American Chemical Society

Founded in 1876, the ACS consists of over 160,000 members at all degree levels and in all areas of chemistry. The society publishes over 30 magazines and peer-reviewed journals

• National Science Teachers Association

Founded in 1944, NSTA is the largest science education association in the world. Includes 55,000 scientists, teachers, and industry representatives

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Additional Research Guides
Additional Research Guides worth reviewing include the following:

• Cheminfo (Indiana University Libraries)
• Chemistry Research Guide (University of Mississippi Libraries)
• Online Resource Guide for the Chemical Sciences (Chemistry Library, University of Illinois)

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Compiled by Jason Cooper and Cindy Tidwell 12-03, updated 12-07