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Chemistry (Research Guide)

 

Types of Resources

Books

Books are written or printed works produced by one or more authors. Individuals or committees with expertise in the field often edit books. Because they provide comprehensive information on their subject at the time of publication, books are very valuable in the research process. For many subject areas this is the best starting point for research. Many books contain valuable bibliographies at the end of each chapter or at the close of the book. This provides an excellent entry point into the subject material as well to the authors publishing in a particular field of study.

Acids and Alkalis TP 213 .W35 2007
An introduction to chemistry for biology students QD 39.5 .B25 2007
Atoms, molecules, and compounds QC 173 .M335 2008
An introduction to chemistry for biology students QD 39.5 .B25 2007
Chemistry - An illustrated guide to science QD 35. C535 2006
Chemistry made simple QD 37 .H4 2004
Chemistry of new materials TA 403.2 .N49 2007
Nontraditional careers for chemists : new formulas in chemistry QD 39.5 .B25 2007
Organic chemistry the easy way QD 253.2 .H38 2006
Schaum's A-Z chemistry QD 65 .H665 2003
Schaum's outline of theory and problems of general, organic, and biological chemistry QD 42 .O28 1994
The nuts and bolts of organic chemistry : a student's guide to success QD 253.2 .K37 2006
Tietz fundamentals of clinical chemistry RB 40 .F84 2008

Databases

Online information databases are large, regularly updated collections of digitized information -- including but not limited to abstracts and full text articles from journals and newspapers, conference proceedings and submitted papers, dissertations, government reports, essays, book chapters, web pages, etc. The content is created by publishers who release print versions, then lease the rights to their information to database vendors. Database records are easy to search and retrieve because the content of each record has been analyzed and assigned appropriate subject headings, keywords, names, etc. New records are regularly downloaded from the producer of each database.

In order to access these resources off-campus, you must first obtain the passwords.

If you are looking for a specific journal within a database, use the E-Journal Portal. It returns the names of databases which contain the desired journal.

Dictionaries

A dictionary is any single or multi-volume work which briefly explains terms and topics related to a specific subject, usually arranged alphabetically. Dictionary entries are usually shorter than those found in an encyclopedia. Dictionaries assist with the understanding of terminology and concepts, suggest synonyms, related terms, and scientific names, and are useful resources to consult when formulating and refining your research strategy. Often illustrations and references to additional resources are included.

Condensed Chemical Dictionary REF QD 71.5 .D53 1990
Dictionary of Analytical Chemistry REF QD 5 .C5 1993
Dictionary of Chemistry REF QD 5 .M522 2003
The Facts on File Dictionary of Chemistry REF QD 5 .F33 2005
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemistry, 2nd Edition QD 5 .M36 2003
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms REF Q 123 .M15
Oxford Dictionary of Chemistry QD5 .D4985 2004

Online

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are among the most widely used reference sources and contain articles of varying lengths covering all fields of knowledge. Typically encyclopedias cover many topics but without going into a great deal of depth on any one thing. Encyclopedias are a good starting point for researching topics that you do not know much about or that are completely new to you. They can give you background information which can help when you move to more in-depth sources later. Specialized encyclopedias may cover just one field or even a sub-unit of that field. Subject encyclopedias can be consulted for detailed or technical information on a subject.

Concise Encyclopedia of Chemistry QD 4 .M34 2004
Encyclopedia of Chemistry REF QD 4 .R57 2005
Encyclopedia of Ethics in Science and Technology REF Q 175.35.B37 2002
International Encyclopedia of Chemical Science REF QD 5 .I5 1964
Social Issues In Science and Technology: An Encyclopedia REF Q 175.5.N49 1999

Government Information

Government information is generated by local, state, national, and international governments on almost all topics. Most government information is undergoing a major shift from traditional formats such as print and microfiche, to a variety of electronic formats available through the Internet. Government information is considered to be a primary, authoritative and reliable resource. To find government information on your topic, search the library catalog, specialized indexes, and government agency web sites.

An excellent resource for all types of government information in virtually any subject area or topic is the GSA Federal Citizen Information Center. Individuals can access information online or by using the Consumer Information Catalog to locate items.

Handbooks, Manuals, and Guides

Handbooks, manuals and guides are resources which supply concise factual and statistical information, often in the form of charts, graphs, tables and formulas. These sources have very basic information, with little or no discussion or analysis of the facts they present. They cover a wide variety of topics, and as with other reference sources, these tools may be general or specific to a field, group of people, or era. These sources are frequently updated, which makes them valuable for locating current information. Try searching the online catalog using the keywords of your topic combined with one of the following keywords: handbook, manual or guide.

Journals

Journals are scholarly periodicals which publish current research and commentary on their specific field of study. Most scholarly journals are peer-reviewed which means they have been reviewed and verified by a panel of experts in the field.

Print Subscriptions

New Scientist Periodicals, Level 2
Science Periodicals, Level 2
Science News Periodicals, Level 2

Online

Surveys and Histories

Magill's Survey of Science; six volumes. REF TA 145.M298

Web Sites