Using Chemical Abstracts

1
Using Chemical Abstracts

• To find journal articles about a particular
  chemical

2
Purpose of Chemical Abstracts

• Index journal articles (and other materials such
  as patents, conference proceedings) of interest
  to chemists
• by author
• by subject (e.g., electrophoresis, interleukins)
• by chemical substance
• by chemical formula, etc.
• Summarize (abstract) key information about the
  article

3
Starting points

• How you begin depends on what information you
  have
• Author name use author index
• Subject or chemical substance
• First use Index Guide to find correct term to use
• Then use Subject or Chemical Substance index

4
Why start with the Index Guide?

• The Chemical Substances Index and the Subject
  Index have only ONE entry for each substance or
  subject, even though there may be several
  synonyms for each. The Index Guide tells you
  which synonym to use.

5
Search for articles on Valium

• Wrong way to start
• Chemical Substances Index
• Has no entries alphabetically between
• Valinomycin
• and
• Valleriite

• Right way to start
• Index Guide
• Valium
• See 2H-1,4-Benzodiazepin-2-one,7-chloro-1,3-dihydr
  o-1-methyl-5-phenyl- 439-14-5

6
Chemical Substances Index

• 2H-1,4-Benzodiazepin-2-one,7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-
  methyl-5-phenyl- 439-14-5
• Ignore initial numbers and letters and look
  alphabetically for first word (Benzodiazepin)
• Use the headings at the top of the pages to get
  to the correct page (here 2H-1,4-Benzodiazepin-2-o
  ne,) then continue alphabetically after___,
  (...chloro, then ...chloro dihydro, then
  ...chloro dihydro methyl etc.)
• Match the Registry Number 439-14-5 to be
  positive you have the right compound

7
Finding the abstract

• Detn. Of
• ..
• in blood of humans by gas chromatog., 101
  185351k
• .
• In blood of humans by HPLC, 101 49655k
• ..

• There are no clues as to which articles we may
  have here at CSUF from this page, but
• Avoid those with P or B before abstract number,
  e.g. 96 P 200180c, since those are patents (or
  books), not journal articles
• Note volume number (101) and abstract number

8
Finding the abstract (2)

• Go to the correct volume of Chemical Abstracts
  (101 here) and choose the book containing your
  abstract number (number ranges are on spine).
  Look up your abstract number.

• 101 185351k Trace analysis of benzodiazepine
  drugs in blood using.. Douse, J.M.F (Metrop.
  Police Forensic Sci. Lab.), J. Chromatogr.
  1984, 301(1), 137-54 (Eng.). A general method
  for the trace anal. of benzodiazepine drugs
  using...

9
Information to note

• 101 185351k Trace analysis of benzodiazepine
  drugs in blood using.. Douse, J.M.F (Metrop.
  Police Forensic Sci. Lab.), J. Chromatogr.
  1984, 301(1), 137-54 (Eng.). A general method
  for the trace anal. of benzodiazepine drugs
  using...

• Article title
• Article author(s)
• Author address
• Journal name abbreviation
• Volume and issue
• Pages
• Language

10
Finding the article

• Search Find Journals on the library home page
  starting with the full title (ex. Journal of
  Chromatography)
• Or Search Title/Journal Title for J. Chromatogr.
• The search there will tell you if the library
  owns it electronically or on hard copy.
• If the library doesnt carry it you may consider
  an alternate article or order it through ILLiad.

11
Other hints

• To find out what journal abbreviation stands for
  so you can search the complete title in the OPAC,
  check CASSI (Reference QD1.A5251) or Periodical
  Titles by Abbreviation (ask at Reference Desk).
• Bring stickies or flags to mark your place in the
  indexes and abstracts while you check the next
  step
• Be patient this can be a long process!