Research Guides: Chemistry: Start Here

Background Research

Background research can give you a general understanding of a topic. Your research also may bring up important questions about a subject that you can use to begin deeper research.

Benefits

Benefits of background research:

Helps you understand your topic before you begin targeted research.
Gain familiarity with the terminology used.
Get an idea of how much information is available on your topic.
Identifies unresolved issues, controversies, and places where knowledge is incomplete.

In other words, conducting background research will help you identify anything that can lead to interesting questions about the topic that might lead to solid research questions.

Adapted from Credo InfoLit Core Tutorial: Background Research Tips

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

AccessScience Encyclopedia of Science and Technology This link opens in a new window
Source of reference for major scientific disciplines. Useful to identify and locate primary research material, videos, and teaching material.
Credo Reference Unlimited This link opens in a new window
Contains bilingual dictionaries and reference works in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
e-Eros: Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis This link opens in a new window
Contains information on reactions of the most frequently consulted reagents used in organic synthesis. The database includes properties, preparations, example reactions, and key literature references.