CH223L

From WolfWikis

This page discusses the literature searching assignment in the CH223 lab course. You have been assigned a chemical, which you must research to obtain cost, property information, hazardous properties, a method of synthesis, and spectra. Your lab manual and quick reference guide (handed out in class, or get a copy below) are your principal resources to know where to find the required information.

Quick reference guide (MS Word file)

Blank search report form (PDF file)

If you need help with the resources, use this wiki and the CH223 course page for more sources of information and help using them.

All databases are available through the NCSU Libraries home page. I try to provide links on all the wiki pages, but I can't remember everything :)

Purpose of the assignment

This lab assignment is intended to familiarize you with basic information resources in chemistry. Before beginning any laboratory work, professional chemists must first devote research time to understanding the substances they will be experimenting with. A few minutes of research can save you hours in the lab. If you were asked to work with a particular chemical, you'd want to know a little about it first, right? Like, is it going to explode if you expose it to oxygen?

Professional chemistry research is not done entirely with Google and Wikipedia! Many resources are online, but you can't search them with sites like Google (internet search engines search only free information--most professional research information is NOT free). Wikipedia, for example, can be an excellent resource but, at best, the chemistry information is usually lifted straight out of more established resources, with little or no review. (The rule to remember is: you can read Wikipedia, but you can't cite Wikipedia.) University students have access to more complete, reliable information resources, with only a small time investment required to find out where they are and how to use them. Use Google and Wikipedia, but use them with discretion and with an understanding that it is not complete research.

Completing the assignment

Fill in the literature search report form as you find each piece of information. You will have to check a variety of sources, both online and probably in print. Use the lab manual and the quick reference guide to help you know where to look. If you don't understand a portion of the assignment, ask your TA for help. If you can't find information you need to complete the assignment, ask the librarian for help.

Physical properties

Many books and databases contain physical property information for various substances. But not all resources will contain your chemical, or every piece of information you require. Therefore, you will likely need to check several resources to obtain all the property information you need. Recommended resources listed below. Use the physical properties page as a guide or to see other places to look.

• Aldrich - Start here. You should be able to get the CAS number, cost, and some other property information. Note the hazards and safety codes. If your chemical is not in Aldrich, you should request a new one for this assignment.

Other places to check for properties:

• ChemNetBase - You'll need this for the synthesis part later, too.
• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics - A good place to get refractive index, if available.
• PubChem
• ChemIDplus
• Merck Index - also good for finding biological hazards.

Check the physical properties page for more sources of information.

Hazardous properties and safety information

You need to report both unusual hazards (e.g., is it explosive?) and biological hazards (e.g., toxic? corrosive to skin?). You will probably want to review more than one health and safety resource to get as much information as possible. If you were going to be working with this chemical, you'd want to know everything dangerous about it, right? Aldrich probably has a few safety notes, but this is not a complete source of information.

Resources:

• NC State University MSDS Management System
• TOXNET
• Sigma-Aldrich Library of Chemical Safety Data
• Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials
• Sigma-Aldrich Library of Regulatory & Safety Data
• Merck Index

Check the hazardous properties page for more resources and help.

Synthesis references

Finding synthesis references is a multi-step process, and often the most challenging portion of the literature searching assignment. See the synthesis references page for information on this process, and use the resources below to help find the actual reference.

Resources:

• Dictionary of Organic Compounds - Start here (unless you're familiar with SciFinder Scholar)
• Merck Index
• Handbook of Reagents for Organic Synthesis
• Organic Syntheses Collective Volumes

One of the best resources to use is SciFinder Scholar (Chemical Abstracts). But it does require some familiarity with the software.

• Use this guide: finding synthesis methods in SciFinder Scholar

Spectra

Some spectral resources are good general reference books that contain spectra for some or all chemicals (such as Aldrich). Others are simply atlases of spectra, and contain nothing but data. Below are recommended resources. Check the Spectra page for more ideas.

Resources:

• SDBS
• Aldrich
• Aldrich Library of 13C and 1H FT NMR Spectra
• Aldrich Library of FT-IR Spectra
• NIST Webbook
• NMRShiftDB
• Dictionary of Organic Compounds

Extra help

1. Ask the chemistry librarian.
2. Check the Libraries' chemistry page for more databases and resources.
3. Try the library catalog for alternate resources.