ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the databases and strategies of particular relevance to online searching in chemistry. Chemistry is the physical science that is concerned with the composition, structure, properties and transformations of matter at the atomic and molecular levels, and with the utilization of natural substances and the creation of artificial ones. Chemistry databases are available from all major vendor systems, each of which has its particular emphases and strengths. Databases fall into five broad categories: bibliographic, referral, numeric, factual and full-text. CD-ROM is the format showing the greatest activity, but diskette databases have a role to play, particularly for the individual researcher. New databases are being developed constantly; some are the result of the parent index splitting into different parts, some are born as a result of new spurts in that area of research. Vendor-specific material includes the file data sheets provided by the vendors.
