Finding Information

What information do you need?

  • Molecules or compounds involved?
  • Chemical principles involved?
  • Structures of the molecules and compounds?
  • Supporting data & documentation, such as a journal article?

Resources to Start With:

  • Course textbook (properly cited, of course)
  • Encyclopedias
    • AccessScience
      Online version of the the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 9th Edition, and the the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th Edition. Covers all areas of science and technology, including Anthropology & Archeology, Chemistry, Engineering & Materials, Food Science & Technology, Medicine and Paleontology.
    • Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
    • Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Encyclopedia of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering
      Includes research and applications in tissue engineering, prosthetics, drug delivery, biosensors, and medical devices. Include literature citations, chemical structures and color graphics.
    • Encyclopedia of Food Science and Technology
    • Encyclopedia of food sciences and nutrition / editor-in-chief Benjamin Caballero, editors, Luiz C. Trugo and Paul M. Finglas, 2nd ed. San Diego, Calif. : London : Academic, c2003.
      Bioscience Library TX349.E47 2003 Reference Shelves
    • Encyclopedia of Materials
      Covers all areas of materials science including structural materials, functional materials, structural phenomena, functional phenomena, polymers and materials chemistry.
    • Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
    • Encyclopedia of Water Science
      Provides information on all areas of water science including current laws and regulations, irrigation management, agricultural water economics, agroforestry, erosion control, nutrient best management practices, and water sanitation.
    • Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
      Covers all areas of chemical technology including the properties, manufacturing, and uses of chemicals and materials, processes, and engineering principles.
    • Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry
      Covers all facets of industrial chemistry including polymers, plastics, metals, alloys and environmental protection. Includes tables and figures, as well as literature sources and cross-references.
    • Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia
      Includes more than 300,000 articles written collaboratively by contributors around the world. The site is a "wiki" which means that anyone can edit articles simply by clicking on the "edit this page" link that appears at the top of each page.
  • Journal Articles - Journal Article Databases:
  • Books - Selected books that you may find useful:
    • Chem 1A Fascinating Chemistry Book Collection
    • Atmospheric Chemistry/Ozone

      • Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change /
      John H. Seinfeld, Spyros N. Pandis. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2006.
      Chemistry Library QC879.6.S45 2006
      Engineering Library QC879.6.S45 2006

      Chemistry of the upper and lower atmosphere: theory, experiments, and applications /
      Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts, James N. ...San Diego : Academic Press, c2000.
      Chemistry Library QC879.6.F57 2000
      Engineering Library QC879.6.F57 2000

      Introduction to atmospheric chemistry: a companion text to Basic physical chemistry for the atmospheric sciences /
      Peter V. . Cambridge; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2000.
      Earth Sci Library QC879.6.H62 2000
    • Batteries

      • Handbook of batteries /
      David Linden, editor, Thomas B. Reddy,editor. / 3rd ed.New York : McGraw-Hill, 2002.
      Engineering Library TK2901.H36 2002
      online full text via ebrary
      online full text via Knovel

      Understanding batteries / Ronald M. Dell, David A.J. Rand.
      Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry, c2001.
      Chemistry Library TK2896.D45 2001
    • Cosmetics, Detergents and Personal Care Products

      • Cosmetics, Science and Technology / edited by M.S. Balsam and Edward Sagarin. 2nd ed.
      Malabar, Fla. : Krieger Pub. Co., 1992.
      Chemistry Library TP983.C783 1992 v. 1-3 (1992) Reference

      Handbook of cosmetic science and technology. 2nd ed.
      edited by Marc Paye, Andre O. Barel, Howard I. Maibach. New York : Taylor & Francis, 2006.
      Chemistry Library TP983.H24 2006 Reference

      Analysis of cosmetic products /
      edited by Amparo Salvador and Alberto Chisvert. Amsterdam ; London : Elsevier, 2007.
      Chemistry Library TP983.A82 2007 On non-circulating reserve

      The chemistry and manufacture of cosmetics. 2d ed.
      Princeton, N.J., Van Nostrand [1962-75]
      Bioscience Library TP983.D35 1962 Library has: v. 1-2 (1962- )

      Chemical formulation: an overview of surfactant based preparations used in everyday life /
      Tony Hargreaves. Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2003.
      Chemistry Library TP994.H37 2003 Reference

      Surfactants in cosmetics. 2nd ed., rev. and expanded /
      edited by Martin M. Rieger, Linda D. Rhein. New York : Marcel Dekker, c1997.
      Surfactant science series ; v. 68
      Chemistry Library TP994.S8763 1997

      Surfactants in personal care products and decorative cosmetics. 3rd ed. /
      [edited by] Linda D. Rhein ... [et al.]. Boca Raton : CRC/Taylor & Francis, c2007.
      Surfactant science series ; v. 135
      Chemistry Library TP994.S8763 2007
      online full text

      Handbook of detergents /
      editor-in-chief, Uri Zoller. New York : M. Dekker, c1999 Surfactant science series ; v.82, 121, 123.
      Chemistry Library TP994.H36 1999 Library has: pt.A-D (c1999-c2006)
      Parts B-D ALSO ONLINE (not Part A)
      Part B online full text
      Part C online full text
      Part D online full text

      Laundry detergents /
      Eduard Smulders, in collaboration with Wilfried Rahse [et al.]. Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, c2002
      Chemistry Library TP990.J35 2002 Reference (essentially a reprint of article in Ullmanns.)
      online full text

      Liquid detergents / edited by Kuo-Yann Lai. 2nd ed. Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, c2006. Surfactant science series ; v. 129
      Chemistry Library TP992.5.L56 2005
      online full text

      Proceedings of the 4th World Conference on Detergents : strategies for the 21st century /
      editor, Arno Cahn [electronic resource] Champaign, Ill. : AOCS Press, c1999
      online full text

      SODEOPEC : soaps, detergents, oleochemicals, and personal care products /
      editor, Luis Spitz [electronic resource] Champaign, Ill. : AOCS Press, c2004
      online full text
    • Explosives and Fireworks

      • The Chemistry of Explosives / Jacqueline Akhavan. 2nd ed.
      Cambridge, UK : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2004.
      Chemistry Library TP270.A38 2004  Reference

      The Chemistry of Fireworks / Michael S. Russell.
      Cambridge, UK : Royal Society of Chemistry, c2000.
      Chemistry Library TP300.R87 2000 Reference

      Chemistry of pyrotechnics : basic priniciples and theory /
      John A.Conkling. New York : M. Dekker, c1985.
      Chemistry Library TP300.C66 1985 Reference
    • Food Chemistry

      • Food Chemistry / edited by Owen R. Fennema. 3rd ed.
      New York : M. Dekker, c1996.
      Bioscience Library TX541.F65 1996 Reserve
      Moffitt Library TX541.F65 1996 On 2 hour reserve

      On Food and Cooking : the Science and Lore of the Kitchen / Harold McGee.
      New York : Scribner, 2004.
      Bioscience Library TX651.M37 2004 Shelved: Reserve On 7 day reserve

      Introduction to food chemistry /
      Author: Owusu-Apenten, R. K. Boca Raton : CRC Press, c2005.
      Bioscience Library TX545 .O98 2005

      Maillard reactions in chemistry, food, and health /
      Cambridge [England] : Royal Society of Chemistry, c1994.
      Chemistry Library RB171 .M352 1994; (same reaction in self-bronzers, self tanners, etc)

      Principles of food chemistry
      DeMan, John M., 1925- Published: Gaithersburg, Md. : Aspen Publishers, 1999
      online full text

    To find similar books on other topics use the Libray Catalogs:

    Pathfinder Catalog [Guide.pdf]
    Melvyl Catalog [Guide html] [Guide pdf]

  • Internet

    Free resources for general background or specific information. (These resources must be evaluated very carefully, and the information in them should be supported by other sources, such as books and journal articles.)

    Useful websites to start with.

  • Structures

    Resources for chemical structures.
  • Example of the Research Plan used in locating information for a research project on the topic of decaffeinated coffee.

    Some of the resources listed on this page are restricted to computers with UCB IP addresses. All computers in the campus libraries, microcomputer centers, offices, labs and dormitories will allow access. If you are trying to connect from off-campus you will need to use the library proxy server.