SciFinder is one of the most comprehensive databases for chemical information. It provides access to journal articles, patents, chemical substances, reactions, and more. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate SciFinder and optimize your search for inorganic chemistry research.
1. Accessing SciFinder
- University Login: Ensure you have access through your institution’s library. Most universities provide access through a database portal.
- Create an Account: If you are using SciFinder for the first time, you’ll need to create a free account using your university email.
- Access SciFinder through our specific link to login with your XULA credentials and then create a free account.
- Follow the prompts to create your account.
- Login with your credentials to begin searching.
2. Searching by Research Topic
- Start a Search: Once logged in, select “Explore References” for literature searching.
- Keyword Search: Enter specific keywords related to your inorganic chemistry topic. Be as precise as possible. For example:
- Coordination complexes of transition metals
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
- Catalytic properties of lanthanides
- Use Filters: Narrow your search by applying filters like:
- Document Type (Journal Articles, Patents)
- Language
- Publication Year
Pro Tip: Start broad with a few key terms and then refine your results using the filters or more specific search terms as you explore.
3. Searching by Substance or Structure
- Substance Identifier Search: If you’re looking for research related to a specific chemical compound, you can use identifiers like:
- CAS Registry Number: Enter the unique identifier for a substance, such as CAS: 7782-42-5 for graphite.
- Chemical Name: Enter the exact name of the chemical, e.g., Iron (III) chloride.
- Structure Search: You can also draw or upload chemical structures using the structure editor tool to find substances with similar or related structures.
- Select Explore Substances and then click on Structure.
- Draw the structure using the provided tools or import a file.
4. Searching by Reaction
- Explore Reactions: If you’re researching chemical reactions, select “Explore Reactions” from the main search menu.
- Reaction Search: Enter the reactants, products, or catalysts involved in the reaction.
- Advanced Search Options: Narrow your search by setting conditions such as reaction yield, solvent, or catalyst.
5. Interpreting Your Search Results
- Reference Results: After conducting your search, SciFinder will present a list of references (journal articles, patents, etc.).
- Each result provides a title, authors, journal name, publication year, and an abstract.
- Click on the Full Text option to access the complete article if your institution has a subscription to that journal.
- Relevance Ranking: Results are ranked by relevance. You can change the sorting criteria (by date, citation count, etc.) to better suit your needs.
6. Citing and Saving Your Results
- Save for Later: SciFinder allows you to save references and search queries for future use. Simply select the references and click Save or Export.
- Citation Export: You can export citations in various formats (EndNote, RIS, BibTeX, etc.) for easy incorporation into your research papers.