Quick Definitions | Thorough Overviews | Acronyms/Terminology | The Elements

Quick Definitions

Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry
Succinct entries on topics such as chemicals and chemical compounds, chemical classes and groups, chemical concepts, and types of analysis.
REF QD4. A2313 1994

Handbook of Inorganic Chemicals
Focuses solely on inorganic chemicals; general topics are excluded. Entries include history, occurrence, preparation, reactions, hazards, and uses. Also "details chemical reactions undergone in preparation or in nature" for substances.
REF QD155.5 .P37 2003

Concise Encyclopedia: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Coverage spans from general topics/concepts in biochemistry and molecular biology to chemical compounds and types of chemical analysis.
REF QD415. A25 B713 1997

Thorough Overviews

Use index to search for topics. Most entries include bibliographies of key review articles or seminal papers for further reading

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
One of the best resources for chemistry-related information; entries tend to be long and technically written. Covers general topics and concepts in chemistry as well as chemical groups, compounds, and products. Chemical-related entries include history of the material, sources, and uses/applications.
REF TP9. E685 1991
REF TP9. K54 2004 (first 16 volumes only)

Van Nostrand’s Encyclopedia of Chemistry.
Covers classic chemistry topics as well as new fields such as nanotechnology, green chemistry, and forensic chemistry. Chemical information includes uses and economic aspects as well as information about manufacturing processes.
REF QD4. V36 2005

MacMillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry
Entries pertain to topics of general interest, analytical methods, chemicals and chemical groups, and biographies on seminal chemists.
REF QD4. M33 1997

Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry
Provides definitions of important inorganic chemistry concepts as well as overviews of chemical compounds and analytic methodologies.
REF QD148. E53 1994

Acronyms/Terminology

IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology
Contains authoritative definitions for nearly 7000 terms that span the entire range of chemistry. Access terms by browsing or via keyword search.
http://www.iupac.org/publications/compendium/

The Elements

Encyclopedia of the Elements
Provides several chapters of general information about the elements as well as chapters that concentrate on specific element. Elemental information includes properties, discovery, deposits and production, extraction and fabrication, modern uses, and associated environmental problems.
REF QD466. E56 2004

Chemical Elements in the Environment
Focuses on the 92 elements that occur in nature. Each entry encompasses physical and chemical information, abundance and concentration, biological impacts, environmental pathways and mobility, geochemical barriers, uses, yearly production worldwide, and market price ($/kg).
REF QE516.4. R45 1998

Elemental Data Index
Online data for the 109 officially named elements (new unnamed elements are also included) including atomic spectra data, x-ray and gamma ray data, ionization data, radiation dosimetry data, nuclear physics data, and condensed matter physics data. Site is produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
http://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/Elements/cover.html

WebElements
Use the Periodic Table of the Elements (click on the element under investigation) for the following key elemental data: background information (history, description, etc.), uses, reactions, crystallography, and electronic/physical/nuclear properties. Created and maintained by Dr.Mark Winter who is a British chemist and professor.
http://www.webelements.com/