LibGuides: Chemistry: Websites

Key websites

ChemSpider
ChemSpider is a searchable resource providing access to millions of chemical structures. It has a useful property predictor function.
WebElements
This site provides key data relating to the elements of the periodic table, such as biology, crystal structures and NMR.
The Periodic Table of Videos
Short videos describing all 118 chemical elements.
PubChem
Search substance, compound or bioassay databases to find chemical information including structures, synonyms, molecular weight and formula.
IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry (the "Blue Book")
The authoritative guide to nomenclature in organic chemistry
NIST Chemistry WebBook
The NIST Chemistry WebBook includes thermochemical data, reaction thermochemistry data, IRUV/VIS and mass spectra, ion energetics data and thermophysical property data.
The Chemical Thesaurus reaction chemistry database
Information about chemical entities and chemical reactions, interactions and processes. Allows you to jump from chemical to chemical via the associated interactions, reactions and processes.
Physical Sciences Data-science Service
Free access to high-quality, curated data resources. Including crystal structures; thermodynamics, chemical properties, and chemical availability. Includes the Cambridge Structural Database System.

TOXNET (Toxicology Data Network)
A collection of databases covering toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related topics. Users may access a range of information - from toxicology data, to toxicology literature, toxic release information, and basic chemical information.
Chemical Safety Information from Intergovernmental Organizations
This site aims to give “rapid access to internationally peer reviewed information on chemicals commonly used throughout the world, which may also occur as contaminants in the environment and food.”
Where to find material safety data sheets on the internet
Material safety datasheets at 100 free sites. US focus but also includes international sites.

SpectroscopyNOW.com
A publishers' website (Wiley) with sections on Atomic Spectroscopy, IR, MRI, MS, NMR, Raman, UV, X-Ray, Chemometrics & Informatics and Proteomics. It includes news articles, book reviews, job and conference information.

American Chemical Society (ACS)
This site provides information about ACS Publications, journals, topical issues, jobs, grants, continuing education, meetings, chemical history and events.
The Royal Society of Chemistry
The Society is a major publisher and provider of chemical information. The site includes links to special interest groups, RSC awards and e-mail alerting services, funding, awards, medals, Parliamentary activities, Foresight activities and the RSC Library and Information Centre, which includes a library catalogue, new publications and links to useful chemistry information resources on the Internet. There is also information on careers, courses, networking and a dedicated page for HE students
Chemistry Conferences
An international listing of conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs. You can submit details of events free of charge.
The Royal Society
This covers all sciences and particularly comments on policy and developments as well as publishing highly ranked journals.
Chemical Structure Association Trust
This site is useful for finding information about awards, grants and conferences.

We've put together this guide to finding free research resources to help you discover Open Access books and articles:

Guide to free research resources
A guide to free and Open Access resources available to students, alumni and the public.

Before believing the information given on a web site, or quoting it in your essay or project, think about the following:

Authority

Accuracy and reliability

Currency

Audience / relevance

Is the information of the right level to be quoted in your project? If it is aimed at the general public or school children it might not be!

Feel!

Is the site well structured and easy to navigate?
Are the links from the page up-to-date and valid?
If it is well designed and maintained then you can feel more confident about the information it provides

In the text of your coursework insert a superscript number in sequence. Read more about this on the citing references page.

In your bibliography websites should be referenced as:

Name of resource, URL, [accessed date].
ChemSpider, http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.4886482.html, [11 May 2016].