Teaching Chemical Information:
Tips and Techniques

— March 1998 —

Example of Integration into Sophomore Organic Chemistry Lab.

Stanford University (Grace Baysinger, Chemistry Librarian)

Students use information sources in process of identifying unknowns:

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
• Merck Index
• Dictionary of Organic Compounds (print, online, and CD-ROM)
• Beilstein (print and online); SANDRA (search for compounds by drawing structures; floppy disk)
• CRC Handbook of Organic Compounds (print and CD-ROM)

Library Guide to Identifying Unknowns

Article in “The Chemical Information Instructor” column in J. Chem. Ed. (v. 72, no. 12, p. 1107–1111) discusses teaching methods, access logistics including hardware and software, costs, and evaluation of teaching program.

Grace Baysinger, Head Librarian and Bibliographer
Swain Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Library, Stanford University Libraries
graceb@stanford.edu