Home - CHEM 4980/BIOL 4980: Research Methods Laboratory - LibGuides at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Important Information About SciFinder Scholar

When doing research in Chemistry, you'll often find yourself needing to use SciFinder Scholar.

To access SciFinder, you first need to create an account here. You'll need your UCCS username and password to start the process.

Only two UCCS users can be on SciFinder at the same time, so it's very important that you don't wait until the last minute to research your project. Otherwise you'll run the risk of not being able to access SciFinder. This means that it's also important to log off when you are done, so that your classmates won't be denied access.

Please note that, as with any other UCCS database, if you want to use SciFinder from an off-campus computer you will need to be logged into the Library VPN (Transporter). If you have never used the VPN before, instructions on installation and use are available here.

Reading Scientific Papers

Anatomy of a Scholarly Article
A visual tutorial describing the important sections of scholarly journal articles, created by the NCSU Libraries.
How to Read a Scientific Paper
If you've never read a scientific paper before, take a look at this tutorial by Purdue University. It has tips on reading research papers more effectively and efficiently.

Writing Papers in Chemistry

Research papers in Chemistry are written according to the rules of The ACS Style Guide. If you have never written a paper in this style before, the library has a copy of the guide in the Reference section on the 2nd floor. The main collection has books about effective writing in chemistry:

The ACS Style Guide : Effective Communication of Scientific Information

Call Number: Ref QD8.5 .A25 2006

ISBN: 0841239991

The ACS Style Guide is located in the Reference Section (behind the Reference Desk, which is across from the library's main entrance). Part 1 describes the process of producing scientific articles. Part 2 explains the style guidelines for chemistry papers, including how to format the names and numbers of chemical compounds. It cannot be checked out, but there is an earlier edition in the main collection which does circulate.