An Introduction to Computer Searching of
Chemical Abstracts
STN International Version

Prepared by the Education Committee
Division of Chemical Information, American Chemical Society
August 1993

“The CAS citations are copyrighted by the American Chemical Society and are reprinted by permission.”

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Pros and Cons of Computer searching
• Flow of Chemical Information
• Chemical Abstracts Service Database

Searching Basics

• Typical reasons for searching
• Developing a search strategy
• Boolean operators
• Proximity operators
• Truncation
• Basic commands
• Record display formats
• CA file structure (indexes)

Annotated Search Examples

• Analytical chemistry
• Author
• Biochemistry
• General Subject
• Inorganic/physical chemistry
• Organic Chemistry (property)
• Organic Chemistry (synthesis)

Appendices

• Appendix A: Other Chemical Information Sources
• Appendix B: Start-up Requirements
• Appendix C: Costs
• Appendix D: Teaching Materials/Vendor Support

Acknowledgements

© 1993 Education Committee, Division of Chemical Information, American Chemical Society