CHEM 102: Chemistry
Librarian: Josh Wilson
ONLINE CHEMISTRY DATA SOURCES
Chemistry is a science where standardized measurements of physical
constants, safety information, and economic information are very important.
Much of this data is available online (though some is not!).
Use this guide to help you locate an appropriate source for the
data and/or numerical values or safety information that you seek.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES/DATA FOR CHEMICALS
There are 3 primary online sources to get physical property
data about chemicals. They are:
1) Electronic Handbooks
2) Free websites from reputable sources
3) Beilstein/Gmelin database
All three can be useful depending on your needs. The sources vary
by how easy they are to use and the amount of data they contain. For
your class, concentrate on getting data from 1) Electronic handbooks
and 2) reputable websites.
Physical Properties-Handbooks
The two main sources for online chemistry data from handbooks are:
KNOVEL and ChemNetBase
Why use these electronic books?
Because you can compare measurements taken during your lab experiments
to see if your data makes sense and is close to established values.
If so, you are doing your experiment correctly.
These data sources are interactive - some data
can be sorted, graphed, and put in spread sheets.
Searchable full-text chemistry, chemical engineering and physical
science handbooks.
You can search several handbooks simultaneously!!
Click here
to search all Knovel handbooks.
Some of the individual Knovel titles best for finding general physical
data for chemicals are:
1)
Chemical properties Handbook
Accurate information on how chemicals behave at different temperatures
and under different conditions.
2)
Chemistry of the Elements
Provides detailed information on each
element, its properties, compounds, and reactions.
3)
Lange's Handbook of Chemistry
Covers the entire field of chemistry, with state-of-the-art facts,
figures, values, tables, and formulas. It is an essential source
of information for all chemistry professionals, engineers, and technicians.
4)
International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry,
and Technology
Contains an enormous amount of critical data on inorganic and organic
compounds, and pure substances. Features physical, thermodynamic,
mechanical, and other key properties.
5)
Knovel Critical Tables
The physical property tables alone include over 21,000 inorganic
and organic compounds, and pure substances. The solvent property
tables have data for 385 common solvents, and the thermodynamic
property tables have data for over 15,000 compounds.
6)
Smithsonian Physical Tables
Comprises 901 tables of common physical and chemical data.
The information provided is broad in scope.
Chemical information from chemistry and chemical engineering reference
works.
The most important source within ChemNetBase
for your class is the
CRC
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
Note especially sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 16 for chemists.
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Physical Properties-Websites
Excellent sources for chemical data are the free online webpages
and databases sponsored by
The National Institute of Standards and Testing
(NIST).
These data collections, data prediction methods and models meet high
standards for accuracy and reliability
NIST Chemistry Gateway
Physical Properties- Beilstein/Gmelin Database
The world's largest chemical facts databases include structures,
physical properties, reactions and literature quotations covering
over 8 million organic and 1.4 million inorganic and organometallic
compounds.
Access requires installing software on a campus computer. This is
a very advanced database that takes training to learn how to use.
For more information on using Beilstein, how to get access to it,
or to schedule a training appointment, please contact Eleanor Smith, the chemistry librarian.
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Safety Information
The main source for online safety data is the
Material
Safety Data Sheets
Over 500,000 material safety data sheets for chemical products. MSDS
commonly contain information on chemical and physical properties;
health, fire and reactivity hazards; environmental and regulatory
requirements; spill and disposal procedures; first aid recommendations;
and storage, handling and personal protective equipment.
Economic Data
Chemists need to know the value of chemicals is in order to plan
for buying supplies for a lab. Chemical Engineers who work in companies
also want to know what the market is like for chemical compounds.
The CHEMICAL
ECONOMICS HANDBOOK summarizes data on worldwide production of
over 300 chemicals and compounds.
The ALDRICH HANDBOOK OF FINE CHEMICALS summarizes prices for
smaller amounts of chemicals, usually 5-100 mg at a time. This source
is not electronic, but can be found in the D.H. Hill Library Reference
Area. Call #TP202 .A42
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Librarian Contact Information
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