Western Carolina University - Physical & Chemical Properties

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Print Resources

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 84th ed. (Annual)
Premier source for property data. Provides information (in tabular format) for organic and inorganic compounds and the elements. Property data includes molecular weight (mw), physical form, melting point (mp), boiling point (bp), density, solubility, and refractive index. The CRC also includes sections on thermochemistry & electrochemistry, properties of fluids and solids, and molecular structure and spectroscopy.
REF QD65.H32 2003/2004

Concise Encyclopedia Chemistry.
Provides information in a standard encyclopedic entry format (information written in paragraphs, arranged alphabetically by topic). Property data is available for organic and inorganic compounds and the elements and includes mw, mp, bp, density, and physical description (color, taste, odor). Occurrence, production and applications of a substance may also be included in the entry.
REF QD4.A2313 1994

Handbook of Physical Properties of Organic Chemicals.
Contains property data for organic compounds only. Each substance has its own table that indicates property data (when such data is available) including mw, mp, bp, solubility in water, pKa, and vapor pressure. Entries are in order by CAS RN. Use indices to correlate molecular formula or substance name with the CAS registry number.
REF QD257.7.H374 1997

Kaye and Laby Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants. 16th ed.
Chapter 3 focuses on chemistry. Information is provided in table format and includes properties (mp, bp, density, refractive index) of organic and inorganic compounds and the elements; chemical bond properties; tables of vapor pressures; and chemical thermodynamic data (ex. molar heat capacity).
REF QC61.K3 1995

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. 4th ed. 27 vols.
Encyclopedia that includes physical and chemical property data sections for each substance's entry. Properties can include mw, mp, bp, density, solubility, viscosity, refractive index, heat capacity, and chemical reactions with other compounds. Entries are alphabetical by topic (substance) and some individual substances are included in the broader "chemical family" entry rather than in a single substance entry. Occurrence, production, health & safety factors and applications/uses are included for many entries. Use the index volume as a finding aid.
REF TP9.E685 1991

Lange's Handbook of Chemistry. 16th ed.
Volume is divided into four main sections: inorganic chemistry (including the elements), organic chemistry, spectroscopy, and general information & conversion tables. Property information is provided as entries in tables and includes data such as mp, bp, flash point, density, solubility, viscosity, color, refractive index, heat capacity, and conductivity.
REF QD65.H292 2005

The Merck Index : An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. 13th ed.
Resource containing property data for biologically-important substances including organic compounds, inorganic compounds, elements, and pharmaceutical substances. Entries are in paragraph format and arranged alphabetically by substance name. However, using the name or CAS RN index ("Registry Numbers" tab) to locate entry will eliminate confusion that substance synonyms can cause. Property data coverage varies by substance but can include mw, color, mp, bp, solubility, flash point, density, refractive index, and toxicity data (i.e. lethal dose data). Substance use and application may also be indicated.
REF DESK RS51.M4 2001
REF RS51.M4 2001

Online Resources

CHEMnetBase
CHEMnetBase provides full-text access to eight major chemical reference works including the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Dictionary of Organic Compounds, Dictionary of Natural Products, Dictionary of Drugs, and the Dictionary of Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds. Choose any one of the reference sources to search (they cannot be searched all together). Substructure searching is available for the majority of the titles.

ChemFinder.
Supplies basic property information including mw, mp, bp, density, water solubility, flash point, and refractive index. Allows for five free searches before registration (which is free) is required.
http://www.chemfinder.com

ChemIDplus
ChemIDplus is maintained by the National Library of Medicine and provides basic property information for a wide-variety of chemical compounds and pharmaceutical substances. Searches may be done by name, CAS registry number (recommended), and molecular formula. Click on "Physical Properties" link - the last link on the left-hand side once results are displayed - for data that includes mw, mp, bp, pKa, vapor pressure, and solubility in water.
http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/

SciFinder
Find basic property information including mw, mp, bp, density, solubility, flash point, pKa, vapor pressure, and refractive index. Use the "Chemical substance or reaction" search and click on the microscope icon once results are displayed. SciFinder is available only to students, faculty, and staff of Western Carolina University. Click here to download SciFinder software. Not available off-campus.

Sigma-Aldrich
Search Sigma-Aldrich (chemical supplier) for property information for the many chemical substances that they provide through their catalog. Property data can include mw, bp, density, refractive index, and physical description.
Note: Often substances have more than one entry, as Sigma-Aldrich provides various forms based on a variety of conditions (purity, sterility, etc.).
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/search/AdvancedSearchPage