This guide provides a set of resources for advanced undergraduate research in Chemical Data at the Cabot Science Library. This list is not intended to be exhaustive or comprehensive. Cabot Library holds the general science collections for the university; additional resources are available at the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Library. Please consult the HOLLIS catalog and the E-Research @ Harvard site for all of Harvard’s holdings.
Handbooks
Handbooks, in both print and electronic databases, provide quick and easy access to concise information about elements and compounds. The following resources will provide efficient access to data about the most common chemicals.
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
Internet link: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:crchandb
Print location: Cabot Science Reference QD 65 .C18
Print location: Chemistry Reference QD 65 .H3 [latest ed. at RefDesk]
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics contains tables of physical, chemical, and other scientific data, including: basic units and conversion factors; symbols and terminology; physical constants of organic compounds; properties of elements and inorganic compounds; thermochemistry, electrochemistry and kinetics; fluid properties; biochemistry, analytical chemistry, molecular structure, and spectroscopy; atomic, molecular, and optical physics; nuclear and particle physics; properties of solids; polymer properties; geophysics, astronomy, and acoustics; mathematical tables.
Merck Index
Print location: Cabot REF RS 51 .M4
Print location: Chemistry Reference RS 51 .M4
The Merck Index contains 10,955 monographs describing significant chemicals, drugs, and biological substances. The entries are not a listing of Merck & Co., Inc. products, but rather cover a wide range of compounds, which have been selected on the basis of present or historic importance and interest. Each entry includes chemical name, synonyms and trade-marks, CAS Registry numbers, formula and molecular weight, basic physical property data, and literature references, especially preparation references.
Combined Chemical Dictionary
Internet link: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:combched
Much more than a simple dictionary, this database includes descriptive and numerical data on chemical, physical and biological properties of compounds; systematic and common names of compounds; literature references; structure diagrams and their associated connection tables. Contains all those compounds listed in the following reference works:
*** Dictionary of organic compounds
*** Dictionary of natural products
*** Dictionary of inorganic and organometallic compounds
*** Dictionary of pharmacological agents
*** Dictionary of analytical reagents
NIST Chemistry Web Book
Internet link: http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/
This site provides thermochemical, thermophysical, and ion energetics data compiled by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) under the Standard Reference Data Program. Data on com-pounds may be located using general searches for formula, name, CAS registry number, structure, etc.; physical property based searches may be executed for ion energetics properties, vibrational and elec-tronic energies, and molecular weight. There is detailed help located at the Guide to the NIST Chemistry Webbook (http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/guide/).
Physical Reference Data
Internet link: http://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/contents.html
If you are looking for physical data, check out this page, also available from NIST. Available here are fundamental physical constants, atomic spectra data, molecular spectroscopic data, etc.
WebElements
Internet link: http://www.webelements.com/
WebElements is a periodic table that contains an abundance of property data on the first 112 elements. It includes images, structural models, and other graphics. The site also provides a Scholar Edition specifically for chemistry and other students at universities and schools.
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets)
Internet link: http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:msdsohsc
The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is a document designed to provide workers with safety information on chemicals that they are exposed to in the workplace. The MSDS is intended to tell what the hazards of the product are, how to use the product safely, what to expect if the recommendations are not followed, what to do if accidents occur, how to recognize symptoms of overexposure, etc.
MSDS SEARCH currently provides access to 350,000 MSDSs listed on Web sites of 1100 manufacturers and 700,000 MSDSs from public access databases, links to MSDS software, service, training and product providers, links to Government MSDS information, and an MSDS knowledge base, where you can ask questions.
Harvard Libraries offers 2 sources for MSDSs, one restricted and one free. OHS Cornerstone MSDS Database covers fewer chemicals, but has better information on chemicals used in scientific laboratories. MSDS SEARCH (see URL above) is a good starting place to look for items such as mixtures and name brands, including substances used by many non-laboratory workers, such as janitors, grounds workers, craftsmen, etc.
Journals and Databases for Journal Articles
Journals
Cabot Science Library has a large collection of current journals on the main floor of the library. We have couches and arm chairs available for comfortable browsing of the collection. Older issues can be found in the basement. For access to electronic copies of journals, look up the journal’s title in the HOLLIS catalog, where an internet link will be available if Harvard owns a subscription. Or you may use the E-Journals list available through the E-Research @ Harvard site. To locate individual articles within the journals, use one of the databases listed in this guide (individual articles are not available in the catalog or the e-journal list).
Databases for Journal Articles
Citation Indexes / Web of Science
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:scicitin
Science Citation Index, published by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), is a multidisciplinary database, with searchable author abstracts, covering the journal literature of the sciences. It indexes 5,700 major journals across more than 150 scientific disciplines. Because the information stored about each article includes the article's cited reference list (often called its bibliography), you can also search the database for articles that cite a known author or work.
Chemical Abstracts (via Scifinder Scholar)
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.eresource:chemabst
Chemical Abstracts is the major database for all of chemistry, covering the literature from 1907 to present. It contains 18 million abstracts of journal articles and patents, as well as information on 18,000,000 chemical substances. It is possible to search literature (including patents), structures or reactions in this database.
IMPORTANT ACCESS NOTES: Chemical Abstracts can not be reached using your web browser. To access this resource, you must use a proprietary software client called Scifinder Scholar. Use the internet link, above, and follow the directions to download the software.