library/subject guides/chemistry

Chemistry: Point of Use Guide

• Journal articles, conference proceedings, reports, documents, and dissertations
• New book announcements
• Patents

Each weekly issue contains four indexes: 

• Keyword (or subject) Index
• Author Name Index
• Numerical Patent Index
• Patent Concordance

• Author Name Index - arranged alphabetically by last name and then by the the first and last initials (even if the full name is given).
• Chemical Substance Index - covers specific substances, compounds, elements, metals, proteins, etc.  Nomenclature differs from standard IUPAC in that the "parent" structure name is derived first and related compounds are named as a derivative of the "parent".  Many of the parent and derivative names are listed the the "Index Guide" that accompanies each year of Chemical Abstracts.
• General Subject Index - here you will find entries for broad classes of compounds (rather than specific compounds), topics, concepts, phenomena, etc.  This index uses a controlled vocabulary of subject terms -- i.e., uses only one form of entry for any given topic.  With this index, you should always consult the "Index Guide" to find the proper heading. 
• Formula Index - gives the preferred name of the compound and references to abstracts related to that compound.  Cross-references are supplied in those cases where a compound may be reported with two or more molecular formulas.  Formulas are arranged in this index using the "Hill Formula" -- carbons, if any, first, hydrogens, if any, second, followed by the other atoms in alphabetic order.  Thus, H₂O₄S rather than the more common H₂SO₄.  Tip: use the Formula Index to find names of compounds; use those names in the Chemical Substance Index to find abstracts.
• Index of Ring Systems - arranged by the number of rings, then by the ring sizes, then name.  It is based on the skeletal structure of the ring system (the "parent ring") without considering attached hydrogens or substituents.  This index allows a searcher to find names for a given ring system; with those names, he can then search the Chemical Substance Index. 
• Numerical Patent Index - lists patents by country and then by patent number.  To use it you must know both the country and the patent number; once found, the reference will be to the CA abstract number.
• Patent Concordance - cross-reference from the patent number assigned in one county to the equivalent patent (in the same "patent family") in another country.

To find information on a specific topic, use the General Subject or Chemical Substances Indexes.  At the beginning of each index are complete and lengthy directions on how to use the interpret the given information.  All this material puls more is brought together in the Index Guide.  The Index Guide also has a thesaurus of correct compound nomenclature, synonyms, creoss-references, and indexing scopy notes.  It is an "index to the indexes".