American Chemical Society
Teaching Chemical Information:
Tips and Techniques
— March 1998 —
Gmelin Handbook: Why Teach?
Why teach?
- The major treatise in inorganic chemistry.
- Contains many compounds known before 1907 (start of Chemical Abstracts).
- Online database allows searches back to 1817.
Teaching Points:
- Compound oriented.
- Each element has own main volume and several supplements.
- Time period of literature review in each volume differs — important to check closing date of volume.
- Compounds are arranged according to element’s system number hierarchy, and appear at latest position.
- Organometallics covered.
- Comprehensive formula index available.
- Contains evaluated data including synthesis, physical properties, reactions, spectra.
- Often contains extensive discussion of properties.
- Contains references to original literautre.
- Text is in German until 1980. Extensive margin notes in English provided. Online database is in English.
- Online database can be searched by formula, names, or structure.
- Online records are tagged with types of data field available; learn if what you want is available and ask for display of only what you want. Some compound records are huge and very expensive to display in entirety.
Available:
- Springer-Verlag Publishers
- Online on STN — Springer-Verlag provides password for 1 day’s use in class.
- Contact Eric Kemperman, (212) 460-1683. Must provide syllabus.