Chemistry

This guide provides resources and search tips relating to chemistry, scientific writing, and more

Finding Science Information

To get started finding information in the sciences, it's useful to know a little about the Science Information Life Cycle. The life cycle of information is different whether you're in the Sciences, Social Sciences, or Humanities. This tutorial from the UC Irvine Libraries is designed to help you understand the unique characteristics of information production in the Sciences so that you can use library resources effectively and efficiently:

Science Information Life Cycle

Chemistry Databases

Databases are the best way to find scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles and eprints.

Chemistry Databases
Several of the key databases are listed below but if you're having trouble finding something, try one of the many databases listed here.

ACS Publications This link opens in a new window
Provides full-text access to all journals published by the American Chemical Society.
Cambridge Structural Database (WebCSD) This link opens in a new window
Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is the principal repository for 3D crystal structures of organic and metal-organic compounds determined by X-ray and neutron diffraction. Structure data is drawn from the chemical literature and direct deposit. The web version, called WebCSD, is a user-friendly search and display tool that is ideal for quick lookups, teaching, and occasional users. The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center site also has demos, tutorials, free software, and many links of interest to crystallographers. Please note that the site requires the most current version of java and for pop-up blockers to be disabled to function properly. For more information, including troubleshooting, see our online guide.
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics This link opens in a new window
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics is one of the most important data reference books used by scientists worldwide for over fifty years. This online edition enables quick and easy access to everything the print version of the Handbook has to offer. Whether you want to browse through the Table of Contents or search for a specific piece of data, you'll be sure to find what you were looking for, and more quickly than ever before. It continues the tradition of updating existing tables with the most current data and introducing new topics of interest to the scientific community. Only a few people can use this database at one time.
PubChem This link opens in a new window
PubChem, launched in 2004, is an open chemistry database at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). PubChem collects information on chemical structures, identifiers, chemical and physical properties, biological activities, patents, health, safety, toxicity data, and many others. A key chemical information resource for scientists, students, and the general public.
Royal Society of Chemistry This link opens in a new window
Provides electronic access to scholarly journals and e-books published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Access is limited to paid subscription content only.
ScienceDirect This link opens in a new window
Provides full-text access to thousands of scholarly journals and e-books published by Elsevier. Indexes and abstracts articles from journals in the life, physical, medical, technical, and social sciences.
SciFinder This link opens in a new window
Provides integrated access to Chemical Abstracts (over 19 million records covering the worldwide chemical literature, including patents, from 1967-), REGISTRY (25 million substance records, with chemical structures and names), and CASREACT (3 million organic reactions, 1985-present). Search by topic, author, chemical identification terms (names, formulas, and registry numbers), and chemical structures. You must create an account to access Scifinder.

Create New Account Here
Springer Nature Link This link opens in a new window
Provides electronic access to the full-text of thousands of journals and e-books published by Springer Nature in chemical sciences, economics, environmental sciences, life sciences, law, medicine, computer science, engineering, geosciences, mathematics, statistics, and physics.
Web of Science This link opens in a new window
Search current and retrospective information from 12,000+ high-impact research journals worldwide. Provides seamless access to Science Citation Expanded (1900- ), Social Sciences Citation Index (1900- ), Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1975- ), Conference Proceedings Index (1990- ), and Emerging Sources Citation Index (2005-2017). Cited reference searching enables tracking prior research, gauging the impact of research, and to locate articles that share common references.
Wiley Online Library This link opens in a new window
Provides access to journal articles, e-books, book chapters and major reference works published by Wiley in science, technology, medicine, business, humanities and social sciences. Significant full text.