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Chemistry

This guide provides lists of databases, web sites, books, CD-ROMs, videos and DVDs on the study of chemistry. Other sources can be found by searching the catalog for books and the library's databases for journal articles.

Serach for Chemistry Articles

Journal Finder

Search for a title

 

Browse e-journals by subject

Chemistry databases

  • Reaxys Best Bet
    Combines two major resources for chemistry, Beilstein (organic chemistry), and Gmelin (inorganic chemistry) with patent data to provide substance, reaction, and catalyst information. Database can be searched by drawing a 3D chemical compound. Web-based resource - no download needed.
    **When accessing from off the campus network, select 'Institutional sign in' or register for sponsored account.**
  • SciFinder Scholar/Chemical Abstracts Best Bet
    SciFinder Scholar provides online access to these chemistry resources:
    * Chemical Abstracts 1907- Chemical literature (journals, patents, books, etc.)
    * Registry File Chemical compound information (structure, molecular weight, spectral information, etc.)
    * Medline 1958- Medical literature (journals, books, conferences, etc.)
    * CASREACT 1985- Information on chemical reactions (e.g., synthesis, etc.)
    * CHEMCATS Chemical sources, i.e. supplier information* CHEMLIST 1979- Regulatory information
    ** Users must register for an individual account using their @american.edu email address **
  • Web of Science Best Bet

    A combined citation index that comprises several databases: Web of Science Core Collection, BIOSIS Citation Index, Current Contents Connect, Data Citation Index, Derwent Innovations Index, KCI-Korean Journal Database, MEDLINE®, SciELO Citation Index, and Zoological Record databases, which can be searched in the aggregate or singly.
    Web of Science Core Collection contains several components: Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Index, Book Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index, Current Chemical Reactions, and Index Chemicus. To search in a subset of the components, select the database then select the desired index or indices in the 'Editions' dropdown menu.

  • Annual Reviews
    • Full Text

    Annual Reviews is a collection of more than 50 annual review journals covering many science and social science disciplines. Each journal exclusively publish review articles which synthesize and summarize research within a field or discipline. This database includes full-text access to every historical article and issue within the collection as well as the most recent articles published.

  • Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (CRC)
    • Full Text
    This major resource contains updated tables of physical and chemical data.
  • New York Academy of Sciences' Archive
    • Full Text

    The archive encapsulates the history and development of natural science, technology and modern biomedical sciences, and documents anti-intellectualist sentiments towards scientists. The archive includes chronicles of efforts by governments and corporations to influence research into the exploitation of natural resources, labor conditions, and the environmental and economic impacts of mining, drilling, industrial waste and pollution.
    After authenticating, visit this link to the NYAS Archive in the same browser window.

Choosing the Best Tool

Choosing the Best Tool

You'll save time and get better results if you start with the best tool for any particular task.  Here's a table that might help you choose.

What do you want to do? The best place to start:
Search for references (keyword, author names, title, abstract, journal, etc.
  1. SciFinder-n. CAS is the most comprehensive literature index in any field and is hand-indexed, not machine-indexed. There can be a learning curve when searching for references, better suited to higher-level students.
  2. Web of Science covers the chemical journal literature fairly well, and eliminates patents and 'gray' literature that some chemists find distracting or irrelevant. To search by CAS registry number (RN), you must search the BIOSIS Citation Index (BCI) collection. In order to search by structure, you must be signed in to your WOS account.
  3. Reaxys allows users to search for citations by selecting from the Bibliography field tags under the Query Builder function.
Search for substances by drawing a structure or substructure. SciFinder and Reaxys are both very strong here. SciFinder's Registry database of indexed substances is by far the largest such resource in the world, but is heavily sourced from patents. Reaxys has a smaller universe of structures (but still millions), and some people prefer its structure editor to SciFinder's. 
Search for reactions.

Reaxys is often preferred for its precision and drawing options. SciFinder has greater recall of organic reactions since 1986 because it indexes a far larger swath of literature. To be thorough you should search both.

If you're looking for a preparation method for a compound, both tools let you draw a structure and designate it as a reaction product, and you can specify starting materials or fragments, catalysts, minimum yields, etc. SciFinder has a synthesis planner tool as well.

Search by citations to past literature. Web of Science is by far the best tool. Its citation index goes back to 1900. It has relatively powerful tools to analyze results.
Search for chemical spectra.
  1. SciFinder provides many NMR and IR graphical spectra from BioRad and Wiley libraries directly in Registry records for specific substances.  It's also the best place to do a systematic literature search for published spectral data. 
  2. Reaxys contains many spectral data fields in its substance records, which allow for peak searching, but does not contain graphical spectra.
Search for crystallographic data.

Reaxys contains numerous searchable crystallographic data fields for many organic and inorganic substances. SciFinder is the best place to do a literature search for this information published in journals, starting with a substance search.

Access Structures is the CCDC’s and FIZ Karlsruhe’s free service to view and retrieve structures.

Search for physical and thermodynamic properties.

If you need basic property information about a well known compound, starting with a good online handbook, like the CRC Handbook, is the easiest path.

Reaxys has the largest number of property data fields for substances, dating back more than a century.  Complex numeric queries can be created to narrow down results, in addition to searching by substance. 

SciFinder has added a substantial amount of property data to its Registry records, but is not nearly as thorough as Reaxys. However, it's the best place to do a literature search for reported properties using keywords and Registry Numbers. 

Adapted from "Choosing the Best Tool" by University of Texas Libraries, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic License.