chemistry spring-2012
DESCRIPTION
How to find information in Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringTRANSCRIPT
HOW TO FIND INFORMATION IN HOW TO FIND INFORMATION IN CHEMISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCES AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGENGINEERING
Bruce SlutskyBruce Slutsky
Robert Van Houten Library Robert Van Houten Library
NJITNJIT
The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method
The scientific method is the process by The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an over time, endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the accurate representation of the world. There are various thought world. There are various thought processes that are used when the processes that are used when the scientific method is employed. scientific method is employed.
Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval
Scientists, engineers and students Scientists, engineers and students must be able to find information at must be able to find information at all levels from a multitude of all levels from a multitude of information resources available to information resources available to them. them.
Similarities between the Scientific Similarities between the Scientific Method and Information RetrievalMethod and Information Retrieval
Scientific MethodScientific Method Know the subject Know the subject Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Propose an experiment to find Propose an experiment to find
new knowledge new knowledge Conduct the experiment Conduct the experiment Observe and interpret the results Observe and interpret the results Revise the experiment Revise the experiment Interpret the final outcome of the Interpret the final outcome of the
experiment experiment
Information RetrievalInformation Retrieval Know the scope of and contents Know the scope of and contents
of databases in his/her field of of databases in his/her field of endeavor endeavor
Require new knowledge Require new knowledge Devise an initial search strategy Devise an initial search strategy
using relevant terminology in using relevant terminology in subject databases subject databases
Examine the initial answer set Examine the initial answer set Revise the strategy based on Revise the strategy based on
findings from the initial answer findings from the initial answer set set
Explore alternative search options Explore alternative search options Examine the final answer set Examine the final answer set Find the relevant documents Find the relevant documents Use the information foundUse the information found
Formats of the Scientific and Formats of the Scientific and Technical LiteratureTechnical Literature Journal Journal Conference Proceeding Conference Proceeding Magazine Magazine Review Journal Review Journal Research Level Book Research Level Book
(monograph) (monograph) Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Data Compilation Data Compilation
What is a Journal?What is a Journal?
A A journaljournal is a publication issued is a publication issued periodically that reports original periodically that reports original research. research.
Peer Review ProcessPeer Review Process Detailed articles with experimental Detailed articles with experimental
proceduresprocedures Highly SpecializedHighly Specialized
Some Journals in Chemistry, Environmental Some Journals in Chemistry, Environmental Science and Chemical EngineeringScience and Chemical Engineering
Analytical Chemistry Combustion and Flame Environmental Science and Technolo
gy Journal of Membrane Science Environmental Science & Policy
What is a Conference What is a Conference Proceeding?Proceeding?
Organized by professional societies such Organized by professional societies such as the as the American Chemical Society and the and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Scientists and engineers report their Scientists and engineers report their research findings thereresearch findings there
A conference proceedings is a permanent A conference proceedings is a permanent record of the presentationrecord of the presentation
Examples of Conference Examples of Conference ProceedingsProceedings
Radical polymerization : kinetics and Radical polymerization : kinetics and mechanism ; selected contributions mechanism ; selected contributions from the conference in Il Ciocco from the conference in Il Ciocco (Italy), September 3-8, 2006 /(Italy), September 3-8, 2006 /
International Flavor Conference (11th International Flavor Conference (11th : 2004 : Samos, Greece) : 2004 : Samos, Greece)
Review JournalsReview Journals
Condensed version of a research Condensed version of a research journaljournal
Summarizes research developments Summarizes research developments over a short timeover a short time
Omits detailed experimental Omits detailed experimental proceduresprocedures
Examples of Review JournalsExamples of Review Journals
Annual Review of Biochemistry Annual Review of Physical Chemistry Chemical Reviews
MagazinesMagazines
Scientific and technical articles are Scientific and technical articles are translated into a language suited for translated into a language suited for a more general audiencea more general audience
Written by journalists rather than Written by journalists rather than researchersresearchers
Examples of MagazinesExamples of Magazines
Chemical and Engineering News - received - received by members of the American Chemical by members of the American Chemical Society Society
Chemical Engineering Progress - received - received by members of the American Insitute of by members of the American Insitute of Chemical Engineers Chemical Engineers
Chemical Week - a business publication - a business publication Scientific American - for the lay public - for the lay public
MonographsMonographs
Another name for a bookAnother name for a book May be written at all levelsMay be written at all levels Reports research over a longer Reports research over a longer
period of timeperiod of time Brings the research to a much wider Brings the research to a much wider
audienceaudience
Data CompilationsData Compilations
Extract selected pieces of Extract selected pieces of information from the journal information from the journal literatureliterature
May be limited by type of compound May be limited by type of compound or propertyor property
May be print or electronic May be print or electronic
Examples of Data CompilationsExamples of Data Compilations
Chemspider CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Phy
sics NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables – NIST-JANAF Thermochemical Tables –
available in print at NJITavailable in print at NJIT NIST Web Book
EncyclopediasEncyclopedias
EncyclopediasEncyclopedias introduce researchers to specialize introduce researchers to specialize fields of study. Some encyclopedias in chemistry fields of study. Some encyclopedias in chemistry and chemical engineering available in print at and chemical engineering available in print at NJIT:NJIT:
The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical The Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology Technology
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering
WikipediaWikipedia
Is Wikipedia Reliable?Is Wikipedia Reliable?
Can it be trusted as a source of Can it be trusted as a source of chemical information?chemical information?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Advantages and Disadvantages of the Wikipediathe Wikipedia
Advantages:Advantages: Good for obtaining Good for obtaining
background background knowledge on a topicknowledge on a topic
Articles can be revised Articles can be revised and edited quickly. and edited quickly. Information about Information about recent events will recent events will appear thereappear there
Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Does not undergo the Does not undergo the
peer review processpeer review process Anyone can write or Anyone can write or
edit an article edit an article anonymouslyanonymously
Suggestion: Do not Suggestion: Do not cite it in your cite it in your bibliographybibliography
Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information
Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and perform experiments in the laboratory. perform experiments in the laboratory. They want to make the results of their They want to make the results of their research public. research public.
The published information flows from the The published information flows from the top of the chart (next slide) to the bottom. top of the chart (next slide) to the bottom. Students needing information must start Students needing information must start their research at the bottom of the chart. their research at the bottom of the chart. Tertiary literature such as handbooks, Tertiary literature such as handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks should be encyclopedias, and textbooks should be consulted first. consulted first.
Flow of Scientific InformationFlow of Scientific Information
Types of DatabasesTypes of Databases
BibliographicBibliographic - includes the elements needed to - includes the elements needed to identify the document identify the document Author(s) Author(s) Title Title Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Pages Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Pages
Abstract - a one paragraph summary of the article Abstract - a one paragraph summary of the article to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to the research question the research question
Full-TextFull-Text - includes the entire article in - includes the entire article in electronic format electronic format
Numeric (Data Compilation)Numeric (Data Compilation) - includes only - includes only specific data elements such as thermodynamic or specific data elements such as thermodynamic or spectral data spectral data
History of Database FormatsHistory of Database Formats
Print - Very cumbersome and difficult to Print - Very cumbersome and difficult to use use
Online (1970s to the present) – Dial into a Online (1970s to the present) – Dial into a databasedatabase
CD-ROM (1980s to the present) - Only so CD-ROM (1980s to the present) - Only so much information can fit on one disk much information can fit on one disk
World Wide Web (1990s to the present) World Wide Web (1990s to the present)
Limitations of DatabasesLimitations of Databases
Subject coverage Subject coverage Journal Coverage Journal Coverage Dates of Publication Dates of Publication Full-text - Not all databases provide Full-text - Not all databases provide
full-text of the retrieved documents full-text of the retrieved documents or links to themor links to them
Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Chemistry/Chemical Engineering related databases from the NJIT related databases from the NJIT
LibraryLibrary Scifinder Scholar Scifinder Scholar ScopusScopus Medline Medline American Chemical Society American Chemical Society
Publications Publications Science Direct Science Direct
Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar
Electronic Version of Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts (1907 to the (1907 to the present) present)
It contains many links to full-text It contains many links to full-text articles articles
Searchable by chemical substance, Searchable by chemical substance, reaction, research topic, author or reaction, research topic, author or affiliation affiliation
Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar
How-to guides for the various How-to guides for the various operations in the database may operations in the database may be found at:be found at:
http://www.cas.org/support/scifi/htguides.html
Chemical Abstracts ServiceChemical Abstracts ServiceRegistry NumberRegistry Number
Is a unique numeric identifier Is a unique numeric identifier Designates only one substance Designates only one substance Has no chemical significance Has no chemical significance Is a link to a wealth of information Is a link to a wealth of information
about a specific chemical substance about a specific chemical substance Search Scifinder and many handbooks Search Scifinder and many handbooks
and databases using this CAS numberand databases using this CAS number
ScopusScopus
ScopusScopus is a multidisciplinary database that is a multidisciplinary database that contains records going back to the mid contains records going back to the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across the widest body of scientific abstracts the widest body of scientific abstracts available in one place. available in one place.
Please keep in mind that the coverage and Please keep in mind that the coverage and indexing of Scifinder Scholar and Scopus indexing of Scifinder Scholar and Scopus differ. It is always advisable to search more differ. It is always advisable to search more than one database when an exhaustive than one database when an exhaustive search is needed. search is needed.
You can now use Scopus on the iPhoneYou can now use Scopus on the iPhone
Publisher Databases at NJITPublisher Databases at NJIT
American Chemical Society Journals American Institute of Physics American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers IEEE/IEL Electronic Library Institute of Physics Science Direct (Elsevier) (Elsevier) SIAM Journals Online (Society for Industrial and (Society for Industrial and
Applied Mathematics) Applied Mathematics) Springer Wiley Journals Online
American Chemical Society American Chemical Society JournalsJournals
Selected ListSelected List Accounts of Chemical Research Analytical Chemistry Biochemistry Environmental Science and Technology Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Rese
arch Journal of Physical Chemistry A
American Chemical Society American Chemical Society Journal ArchivesJournal Archives
NJIT subscribes to this database NJIT subscribes to this database which includes the electronic version which includes the electronic version of all ACS journals from there of all ACS journals from there inception to 1995inception to 1995
NJIT has current subscriptions only to NJIT has current subscriptions only to selected ACS Journalselected ACS Journal
Science DirectScience Direct
Selected List of chem/chem eng titlesSelected List of chem/chem eng titles Analytica Chimica Acta Chemical Engineering Science Computational Biology and Chemistry Fluid Phase Equilibria Journal of Membrane Science Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling Process Biochemistry Process Biochemistry Progress in Energy and Combustion Science Progress in Energy and Combustion Science Separation and Purification Technology Separation and Purification Technology TetrahedronTetrahedron
Availability of JournalsAvailability of Journals
Print only Print only Electronic Only Electronic Only Print and Electronic Print and Electronic
Dates of electronic availability vary Dates of electronic availability vary Check Serials Solutions DatabaseCheck Serials Solutions Database
Open Access JournalsOpen Access Journals Not available at NJIT - order through Not available at NJIT - order through
interlibrary loaninterlibrary loan
NJIT Library Home PageNJIT Library Home Pagehttp://library.njit.eduhttp://library.njit.edu
Catalog (Voyager) Catalog (Voyager) Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library
Databases Databases Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form Selected resources on the Internet Selected resources on the Internet
Selected resources in chemistry and chemical Selected resources in chemistry and chemical engineeringengineering
How to find physical properties of substancesHow to find physical properties of substances
Voyager, the NJIT Library Voyager, the NJIT Library CatalogCatalog
Books Books Journals (print) Journals (print) Technical Reports Technical Reports Conference Proceedings Conference Proceedings Theses and Dissertations (by NJIT Theses and Dissertations (by NJIT
students students
Interlibrary LoanInterlibrary Loan
The NJIT Library will attempt to locate books The NJIT Library will attempt to locate books and articles not held in our library needed to and articles not held in our library needed to support research by faculty and students. We support research by faculty and students. We usually get these materials from other usually get these materials from other universitiesuniversities
Please be as complete as possible when Please be as complete as possible when submitting a request for an article or submitting a request for an article or bookbook
Very often bibliographies in journal articles Very often bibliographies in journal articles don’t provide the complete information don’t provide the complete information needed to locate an articleneeded to locate an article
Advantages of Electronic Advantages of Electronic JournalsJournals
Allows for remote access Allows for remote access Allows links to the references in the Allows links to the references in the
bibliography bibliography Most publishers provide HTML and Most publishers provide HTML and
PDF versions of their papersPDF versions of their papers
Selected Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Selected Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Sources on the WebSources on the Web
http://researchguides.njit.edu/chemistryhttp://researchguides.njit.edu/chemistry How to find information in chemistry and How to find information in chemistry and chemical engineeringchemical engineering
http://researchguides.njit.edu/http://researchguides.njit.edu/physical_propertiesphysical_properties How to find physical How to find physical property dataproperty data
Boolean LogicBoolean LogicANDAND
The Boolean The Boolean ANDAND narrows your search by narrows your search by retrieving only documents that contain retrieving only documents that contain every one of the keywords that you enter. every one of the keywords that you enter. The more terms you enter, the narrower The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. your search becomes. EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium ANDAND benzene benzene EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium EXAMPLE: vapor liquid equilibrium ANDAND benzene benzene ANDAND toluene toluene
Boolean LogicBoolean LogicOROR
The Boolean The Boolean OROR expands your expands your search by returning documents in search by returning documents in which either or both keywords which either or both keywords appear. The more keywords you appear. The more keywords you enter, the more documents you enter, the more documents you retrieve. retrieve. EXAMPLE: benzene EXAMPLE: benzene OROR toluene toluene EXAMPLE: benzene EXAMPLE: benzene OROR toluene toluene OROR xylene xylene
Boolean LogicBoolean LogicNOTNOT
The Boolean The Boolean NOTNOT limits your search limits your search by returning only the first keyword by returning only the first keyword but not the second, even if the first but not the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too word appears in that document, too EXAMPLE toluene EXAMPLE toluene NOTNOT xylene xylene EXAMPLE benzene EXAMPLE benzene NOTNOT chloroform chloroform
Devising Optimal Search Devising Optimal Search StrategiesStrategies
Choose the proper database(s) Choose the proper database(s) Be aware of the scope and limitations Be aware of the scope and limitations
Use all relevant search terms and Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Boolean logic appropriate Boolean logic Think of concepts not wordsThink of concepts not words
Devise a search strategy for: Devise a search strategy for: Precise search Precise search
Expand strategy if too few are found Expand strategy if too few are found Exhaustive search Exhaustive search
Cut down if too many citations are retrieved Cut down if too many citations are retrieved
Is Your Answer Reasonable?Is Your Answer Reasonable?
If not, what can you do differently? If not, what can you do differently? Keep in mind that the thought processes involved Keep in mind that the thought processes involved
in applying the scientific method to laboratory in applying the scientific method to laboratory experiments apply in the search for technical experiments apply in the search for technical information information
Library Reference desk in person or at 973-596-Library Reference desk in person or at 973-596-3210. Chat reference is now available3210. Chat reference is now available
The library is on Twitter @NJITREFThe library is on Twitter @NJITREF The library is on Facebook – Friends of the NJIT The library is on Facebook – Friends of the NJIT
LibraryLibrary Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at
[email protected] or 973-642-4950 [email protected] or 973-642-4950
Some Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Some Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Resources for Smart PhonesResources for Smart Phones
ACS Mobile (iPhone) $2.99ACS Mobile (iPhone) $2.99 Chemspider -Physical Property dataChemspider -Physical Property data ChemMobi (iPhone) – Physical ChemMobi (iPhone) – Physical
Property DataProperty Data PubMed for handheldPubMed for handheld Scopus (iPhone)Scopus (iPhone) Scifinder ScholarScifinder Scholar
Bruce SlutskyBruce Slutsky
Technical Reference LibrarianTechnical Reference Librarian Chemistry and Environmental ScienceChemistry and Environmental Science Chemical EngineeringChemical Engineering Biomedical EngineeringBiomedical Engineering Civil and Environmental EngineeringCivil and Environmental Engineering PhysicsPhysics BiologyBiology
Contact informationContact information [email protected]@njit.edu 973-642-4950973-642-4950 http://njitbruce.blogspot.comhttp://njitbruce.blogspot.com