How to Use Chemical Abstracts (in Print)

How to UseChemical Abstracts

Claire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER Librarian

[email protected]

What Does Chemical Abstracts Index?• Approximately 12,000 periodicals• From over 100 countries• In more than 50 languages

• However, a few core journals provide the majority of the abstracts

CC-BYClaire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER [email protected]

By Author By Subject By Substance By Formula

There are four ways to search Chemical Abstracts

(for papers)


Author

Start in the Author Index

Search by author’s last name

Find the abstract number

Subject

Start in the Index Guide

Search by subject

Find the authorized term

Go to the General Subject Guide

Search for the authorized term


Substance

Start in the Index Guide

Search by substance name


Go to the Chemical Substance Index



Formula

Start in the Formula Index

Search by chemical formula


Go to the Chemical Substance Index



A summary of steps if you want to search by . . .

By Author

• Start with the Author Index• Look up the author’s last name (alphabetically)• Note the abstract number of any interesting article• Example: D.C. Atri


By Author (example)

Author name

Co-authors’ names Abstract number

From the Author Index:


QD1.A51 Auth.Index c.107 A-H (Author Index A-H 107 July-Dec 1987) p. 153A

By Subject• Start with the Index Guide• Find the authorized term* in the Index Guide (alphabetically)• Look that term up in the Subject Index

• Note the abstract number of any interesting article

*Authorized term: The preferred synonym in a controlled vocabulary**

**Controlled vocabulary: An organized list of terms used to index and retrieve content CC-BY

Claire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER [email protected]

By Subject (Example)From the Index Guide:

Authorized term


QD1.A51 Index guide 1982-86 A-Z (Index Guide A-Z 1982-1986) p.1110G

By Subject (Example, continued)From the Subject Index:

.

.

.

“See also” reference

Abstract numberCC-BYClaire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER [email protected] Gen.Subj.ind v.107 F-O (General Subject Index F-O 107 July-Dec 1987) p.1507GS-1508GS

By Substance

• Start with the Index Guide to find the authorized term and registry number [in brackets] for the substance• Search for the authorized term in the Chemical Substances Index• Ignore initial letters and numbers; look for the first word alphabetically• Once you have found the first word, continue alphabetically ignoring letters and

numbers• (Once you are in the correct place alphabetically, then entries are in order numerically)

• Check the registry number [in brackets] to make sure it matches the Index Guide• Note the abstract number for any interesting articles CC-BY


By Substance (Example)From the Index Guide:

Authorized term

Registry number


QD1.A51 Index guide 1982-86 A-Z (Index Guide A-Z 1982-1986) p.1802G

By Substance (Example, continued)

.

.

.Registry number

From the Chemical Substances Index:

Abstract number

Side Note: An abstract number beginning with P refers to a patent

CC-BYClaire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER [email protected] Chem.Sub.Ind v.107 A-BH (Chemical Substance Index A-BH 107 July-Dec 1987) p.656CS-669CS

By Formula

• Use the Formula Index• Entries are in Alphanumeric order

Registry number


QD1.A51 Form.Index v.107 A-C12 (Formula Index A-C12 107 July-Dec 1987) p.645F

Chemical Formula

Finding the Abstract• Go to the correct volume

• Make sure the abstract number you want is included in the range on the spine

• Find the abstract in numerical order• The entry includes the following pieces of information:

• Article title• Article author(s)• Author’s address• Journal Name Abbreviation (use CASSI to interpret this)• Date• Volume and Issue Numbers• Page Numbers• Language• Abstract CC-BY


Finding the Abstract (Example)From Abstracts:

Volume number (for CAS)

Abstract number

Page numbers

Language

Journal title

Year of publication

Volume and issue number (for the journal)

CC-BYClaire NickersonLearning Initiatives & OER [email protected] v.107 (Abstracts 1-17017, No. 1-2, 107, July 6-13, 1987) p.557

Figuring Out the Journal TitleFrom the Source Index (CASSI):


QD1.A51 Source Index v.1 (CASSI 1907-1984 Cumulative Part 1 A-L) p.1150

Next Steps• Find and obtain the article• In our catalog, by journal title

• Make sure we have the year, volume, and issue of the journal that contains the article• Or via interlibrary loan


Using the Patent Index• You must already know the patent number you’re looking for!• Find the country code and kind code for the patent you’re looking for• This information appears at the beginning of the volume• For example, the country code for the United States is US. The US has several “kind

codes”:• A = Regular US patent• E = Reissued US patent• H = Patent by the Department of Defense• Etc.

• Find the patent by country code, kind code, and patent number• Note the country codes, kind codes, and patent number for related patents• Contact the appropriate patent office for details of related patents


How to Use Chemical Abstracts (in Print)

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