This document provides instructions for a chemistry exercise involving research on an assigned pollutant. Students are directed to use library databases and resources to find information on their pollutant, including technical books and documents, journal articles, toxicity data from government sources, and how the pollutant relates to their major field of study. The exercise involves citing sources in proper format and answering questions to demonstrate their findings. Students are to complete various parts of the assignment involving different library modules and resources on their pollutant.
1 of 49
Download to read offline
More Related Content
Library Handout for CHEM - Fall 2012
1. Chemistry 111 : Exercise 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
• Read each section of the assignment and
the questions. Then use the guide to help
find the answers.
• If you have problems please ask at the
Evans Library Ask Us Desk, Chat with us
at http://guides.library.tamu.edu/AskTheLibraries, or
call 979-845-5741
2. Part 1. Finding Technical Books and Government Documents Using LibCat
1.1 Use LibCat to find a book or government document on your assigned
pollutant. Write the title of the publication in Part 1.1. If there are too
many items listed, narrow the subject or keyword search with terms like
pollution or environment. The truncation symbol ? can be used to help
broaden the search.
Example search: Keyword = benzene AND pollut?
LibCat searches generally rank results in a relevancy order; use the pull-
down menu to change to a ranking by date to examine recent works.
3. Part 1. Finding Technical Books and Government Documents Using LibCat
1.2 Obtain a Location Guide from the Evans Library Ask Us Desk or
other service desk. Look for your book or document in the library, and
circle its location on the Location Guide to show where you found the
item.
Example: QD’s on 4th floor, or government documents on the
5th floor of the Sterling C. Evans Library Annex.
Attach the Location Guide and a print out of the LibCat record for the
item to the Data Reduction and Analysis worksheet. If the item is
electronic and if there is no call number associated with the
item then choose another publication.
1.3 Use the LibCat record for the publication recorded in part 1.1 to
answer the following questions on the worksheet form: Was the item
checked out, or on the shelf? What is the call number? What is
the format?
4. Part 1. Finding Technical Books and Government Documents Using LibCat
Questions for Part 1
Part 1.1 Name of Publication
Part 1.2 Attach copy of the LibCat record
Part 1.3 Was the item checked out, or on the shelf? What is the call number?
Format—Circle the correct format(s): Print Electronic Microform/Microfiche
9. Library Module 1: Technical Books and Government Documents
LibCat Record for an Individual Item
10. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
For this exercise, you will be using one or more of the major databases
often used by undergraduates. These databases allow you to quickly
locate articles on a topic. Using a database is much quicker than
searching individual journals.
When communicating with other professionals, you need to give them all
the information they will need to find the article for themselves. Proper
citation form becomes important. The following exercises will show you
the way to arrange the information that identifies the book or journal
article in proper citation form.
11. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
2.1 Use Web of Science, Environmental Sciences & Pollution Management,
or Academic Search Complete to find a scientific article published in the last five
years on your assigned pollutant. Please note that you can limit by date in these
databases. You can also limit by type of material: book, articles, and conference
proceedings. You will limit your search to articles.
Example keyword search: benzene and pollut* (notice that for this database the
truncation symbol has changed to an *.)
Print the first page of the article, if the full text is available online. If not, print the
citation, with abstract if available, from the database. Attach your printout to the
back of this page. If the library does not subscribe to the online version of the
journal, use LibCat to determine if the print version of the article is available on
campus. Be sure to verify that the library owns the particular volume by looking at
the list of volumes found at the bottom of the LibCat record. If the University
Libraries subscribe to the journal, list the call number.
2.2 Provide the bibliographic citation you would need to cite the article in a
paper—journal articles should be cited using the following format:
Authors separated by semicolons, Article Title, Journal name in italics,
Year in bold, Volume in italics, Page numbers.
Example: E. J. Mawk; M. Hyman; M. W. Rowe. Re-examination of Ancient DNA in
Texas Rock Paintings. Journal of Archaeological Science 2002, 29, 301-306.
12. Part 2. Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
Questions for Part 2
Part 2.1 Attach the first page of your article and list call number
Part 2.2 Write the bibliographic citation
13. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
14. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
15. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
16. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
17. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
18. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
19. Library Module 2: Tools for Searching the Professional Journal Literature
20. Part 3. Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
3.1 Using ChemIDplus or IRIS, find the CAS RN (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry
Number) and molecular formula for the assigned pollutant.
3.2 Use ChemIDplus to find two other names for the assigned pollutant, including the
systematic name.
3.3 Use IRIS, ChemIDplus, or other sources identified in this assignment to determine
where this compound or element primarily occurs as a pollutant. Examples: air,
water, food, etc.
3.4 Does ChemIDplus include a table of toxicity values for your pollutant?
3.5 Use any source, including the EPA site (http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/lterms.html),
to find brief definitions for the following terms used in toxicity studies and
regulations; LD, LD50, LC, LC50, LOAEL.
21. Part 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
Questions for Part 3
Part 3.1 What is the CAS RN and molecular formula for your pollutant?
Part 3.2 Two other names and the systemic name of the pollutant?
Part 3.3 Where does pollutant occur?
Part 3.4 Does your pollutant have a toxicity table?
Part 3.5 Provide definitions:
a. LD
b. LD50
c. LC
d. LC50
e. LOAEL
27. Library Module 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
ChemIDplus Record
28. Library Module 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
Exercise 3.5
29. Library Module 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
Exercise 3.5
30. Library Module 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
Exercise 3.5
31. Library Module 3: Governmental Information Sources: EPA and NLM
Exercise 3.5
32. Library Module 4: Finding Information in Chemical Handbooks
4.1 Use ChemNetBase, the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology or
the Knovel Database to find information on your pollutant, including melting
point, boiling point, and uses.
4.2 Identify the sources (substances) used to manufacture this chemical.
4.3 If the pollutant is naturally occurring, where is it found?
33. Library Module 4: Finding Information in Chemical Handbooks
Questions for Part 4
Part 4.1 Melting point, boiling point, and uses
Part 4.2 Substances required for manufacture
Part 4.3 Where it is found in nature (if naturally occurring)
37. Library Module 4: Finding Information in Chemical Handbooks
Combined Chemical Dictionary Substance Information for Benzene
38. Part 5. Database for Locating Superfund Sites in Texas by County: TCEQ
Using this website,
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/remediation/superfund/sites/county/index.html,
complete the following for one Superfund site located in the county where you
are from. (Example: Dallas, Houston, Navarro, etc.) If your county isn’t listed,
then select a neighboring county that is more populated or industrialized.
Superfund Site Name
Location
Status
Types of Facilities
Category
Last Date Updated
Media Affected
Latitude
Longitude
Hazard Ranking Score (HRS)
Contaminants at Time of HRS
TCEQ Region
Legislative District
42. Part 6. Learning How This Pollutant Affects or Might be Handled
by Professionals in Your Major Area of Study
6.1 Use the Subject Guides link on the university libraries homepage to find the
subject guide for your major or a related field (http://guides.library.tamu.edu/).
Select one of the databases listed. Identify the name of the subject guide, the
name of the database, and your major.
6.2 Find an article in the database that addresses how professionals in your
chosen field deal with or are affected by the pollutant, or if the particular
pollutant isn’t listed, by pollution in general. A business major, for example,
might search a business database to find an article on the financial impact of
pollution abatement for the chemical. A liberal arts major could use newspaper
databases to determine how the media has covered pollution caused by the
chemical. Consider terms such as public health, occupational exposure, and
risk to workers. Write a short summary of your findings and provide the
citation to the article. Write no more than half a page. If you do not find material
in 20 minutes, then please ask for help. Include the citation.
43. Part 6. Learning How This Pollutant Affects or Might be Handled
by Professionals in Your Major Area of Study
Questions for Part 6
Part 6.1 Name of the subject guide
Name of the database
Major
Part 6.2 Attach the article summary (typed) with the appropriate citation.