Evaluating web resources
Consider the following questions when gathering information from web resources for research assignments.
Authority | Who is the author, publisher, source, or sponsoring organization? What experience or credentials does the author have? Are they an expert?
Purpose | Why does the information exist? Is the information fact or opinion? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade? Does it appeal to emotion?
Relevance | Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question/s? Are you comfortable citing this source in your research assignment?
Date | When was the information published or posted? Does your topic require current information?
Accuracy | Where does the information come from? Is there supporting data or evidence? Can you verify the information or claim with another source
Recommended Chemistry Websites
- ACS Green Chemistry InstituteThe mission of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute® (ACS GCI) is to catalyze and enable the implementation of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering throughout the global chemical enterprise and across the Society.
- Critter ChemistryChemistry isn't confined to laboratories and classrooms. Nature is full of chemistry, too. "Critter Chemistry" demonstrates the active role chemistry takes in the animal kingdom.
- NLM Resources on Environmental Health and ToxicologyFind reliable information on environmental health, toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and toxic releases.
- Organic Chemistry PortalThe Organic Chemistry Portal offers an overview of recent topics, interesting reactions, and information on important chemicals for organic chemists.
- Organic Compounds DatabaseThis 2483 compound database has been compiled by Harold M. Bell at Virginia Tech. Fill in the form below with as much information as you can. Leave the information blank if you don't know or you don't care. Click on the submit button to execute your search. You will receive at most 20 hits.
- PDB-101 (The Protein Data Bank)PDB-101 helps teachers, students, and the general public explore the 3D world of proteins and nucleic acids. Learning about their diverse shapes and functions helps to understand all aspects of biomedicine and agriculture, from protein synthesis to health and disease to biological energy
- Periodic Table Live!Periodic Table Live! allows you to explore a broad range of information about the elements, their reactions, their properties, their structures, and their histories.
- spectroscopyNOWspectroscopyNOW is the free access spectroscopy portal that fulfils the information needs of ALL spectroscopists.
spectroscopyNOW.com has become the definitive spectroscopy resource on the internet, offering a wealth of valuable information, resources and services. - WWW Chemistry GuideWWW Chemistry Guide - the directory and search engine of chemistry related resources on the Internet. Our search engine allows you to search the contents of more than 250 website. It searches only the sites we specify, bypassing a lot of the junk.
Online Videos and Podcasts
- Elements: Making Sense of MatterOver the course of this three-part series, Jim Al-Khalili, Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Surrey, energetically traces the curious evolution of chemistry by presenting astonishing stories about the elements and the dedicated visionaries and eccentrics who discovered them. Alchemists, chemists, and physicists all have a place as re-creations of pivotal experiments bring out the inherent drama and spectacle of science. If Elements were a book, it would be a page-turner! A BBC Production. 3-part series, 49-51 minutes each.
- Periodic Table of VideosTables charting the chemical elements have been around since the 19th century - but this modern version has a short video about each one.
- Teaching Systems Chemistry SeriesThe award-winning Standard Deviants tackle the massive world of chemistry. The positively charged cast of young actors will explain a massive amount about the materials that make up our universe and what happens when they react. No matter is left untouched as animated characters and on-screen graphics help viewers visualize the bonding at an atomic and massive level
- TEDTalks: Jakob Magolan—A crash course in organic chemistryJakob Magolan is here to change your perception of organic chemistry. In an accessible talk packed with striking graphics, he teaches us the basics while breaking the stereotype that organic chemistry is something to be afraid of.