American Chemical Society
Teaching Chemical Information:
Tips and Techniques
— March 1998 —
University of Scranton: Chemistry 390: Chemical Literature
Chem 390 Syllabus
Fall 1995: M. Cann:
(Fall Semester, Junior Year)
University of Scranton
Textbooks:
- “The A.C.S. Style Guide,” Janet S. Dodd, American Chemical Society, 1986.
- “How to Search Printed CA,”: American Chemical Society, 1993.
- “Sadtler Standard Spectra Indices,” Sadtler Research Laboratories, Inc.
- “How to Use Beilstein,” Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc.
- “What Every Chemist Should Know About Patents,” A.C.S.
Objective:
This course is designed to teach the basics of searching and using the chemical literature. This is accomplished by in-class lecture discussions, simple literature searching assignment and by a thorough literature search of a particular topic (pertaining to your undergraduate research project) resulting in a review paper.
Procedure:
Most weeks, classes will meet for one period in the third floor study room of the library from which one will use a “hands on” approach to the use of the library. You are expected to attend each class. On certain days, special seminars will be held, for which your attendance is mandatory unless you are specifically excused.
Grades:
One exam (a final) worth 100 points will be given during the final exam week. The review of the literature will also be worth the equivalent of 100 points. In addition, two or more assignments (involving searching the literature) worth 20 points each will be given.
Topics to be Discussed:
- Reviews of the literature (sample review manuscript is provided).
- General Introduction to the Library (reference librarian).
- Chemical Abstracts (STN and Dialog computer search; manual search).
- UnCover
- Primary Sources:
- Journals
- Patents
- Government and Industrial Publications
- Dissertations
- Secondary Sources
- Review Journals
- Advances and Annual Reviews
- Monographs
- Tertiary Sources
- Periodicals
- Textbooks
- Compilations, Handbooks and Tables
- Computerized Structure Drawing Programs
- Laboratory and Research Sources
- Reagent and Equipment Catalogues
- Weissberger
- Fieser’s “Reagents”
- Organic and Inorganic Syntheses
- Laboratory Manuals
- Beilstein
- Spectroscopic Sources
- Sadtler Spectra
- Aldrich Spectra
Withdrawal:
Last day for withdrawal is one month prior to the first day of final exams.
Review of the Literature:
As you know all chemistry and biochemistry majors at the University of Scranton must perform original research (Chem. 393-394, Undergraduate Research) under the mentorship of a chemistry faculty member. This research results in a written thesis defended orally before a committee of three chemistry faculty. In order to prepare yourself for such a research project, you must first review the chemical literature (to determine what others before you have done) pertaining to your proposed research.
Selection of a Topic (Mentor) for Your Research
During the first two weeks of this semester, the faculty members of the Chemistry Department will present a brief synopsis of their research interests (see attached schedule; attendance is mandatory). You should make an appointment with all faculty members whose research area has peaked your interested to discuss their research in more detail. By the end of the third week of the semester you must have selected a mentor, a topic for your research and a topic for your review paper for this course (submit in writing: your name, your mentor’s name and the topic of your review paper).
Searching Chemical Abstracts
During week four, you should search Chemical Abstracts for articles relating to the topic of your review paper. Generally this can be done by computer using STN or Dialog. STN can be done out of my office and is free to the student while Dialog is accessed through the library and you should bring your checkbook or your Royal Card. You should consult with your mentor (I will also be glad to help) to design a search strategy and find a time (after 5:00 P.M.) convenient to yourself, your mentor, and I to perform a search. The results of your research will arrive by mail generally within two or three days.
Finding Primary Source Articles
Armed with the results of your CA search, you and your mentor must then decide what articles are necessary to obtain to write your review. We will not likely have all the desired journals in our library and at this point you must either resort to interlibrary loan (takes a couple of weeks) or a “road trip.” The closest substantial chemistry library collections are at Binghamton University or Lehigh University. Consult with our reference librarians to determine journal holdings of other libraries.