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Chemistry: SciFinder

This guide is designed to help you find materials available from the Houston Cole Library for research in chemistry.

SciFinder: Getting Started

Access to SciFinder is Web-based, and restricted to JSU. Each individual MUST create an account with SciFinder in order to gain access to this database. You cannot share logins.

First Time Users: Click here to create your account.
Returning Users: Click here.

Complete the fields in this form.

Usernames must be unique and contain 5-15 characters. Usernames can contain only letters or a combination of letters, numbers, and/or these special characters:

  • - (dash)
  • _ (underscore)
  • . (period)
  • @ (at symbol)

Passwords must contain 7-15 characters and include at least three of the following:

  • Letters
  • Mixed upper- and lowercase letters
  • Numbers
  • Non-alphanumeric characters (e.g., @, #, %, &, *)

You will receive an email from CSA with a link verifying that you actually created the account. You will have 48 hours to click on that link before it expires or you will be forced to register again. Once you have been verified, the next screen will provide a link to follow to login. Please note that you can use the "Remember Me" option. This will remember your username, but not your password. If you forget either of these, you can use the "Forgot Username or Password?" link to have that information sent to you.

If you have any questions or problems, please contact the Library at (256) 782-8034.

NOTE: If you receive an error message about a security certificate, you will need to do one of the following depending on your browser.

  • In IE you have to click "Continue to the website".
  • In Firefox you have to confirm and store the security exception. In Firefox if you permanently store the certificate you only have to do it once.

SciFinder Assistance

Training materials available from Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) include videos and tutorials on:

  • Getting Started
  • Substance Searching
  • Reaction Searching
  • Patent Searching
  • Reference Searching
  • Sequence Searching

Access SciFinder

SciFinder Access

SciFinder is the most comprehensive database for the chemical literature. It includes journal articles, patents, principles, reactions, substances, properties, and more. Access is restricted to JSU students, faculty and staff, Click the link below to go to the SciFinder page.

Note: Please access SciFinder through the Library's links or the A-Z list of databases. If you access SciFinder through Google or another web search, your registration will not be recognized

Exporting References to RefWorks

Conduct a search in.SciFinder

  • .From the Results page, click the title of the article you need to see detailed information. (To download multiple citations, select the references you want by clicking the checkbox).
  • Click the Download Icon (down arrow) in the top right of the screen.
  • In the Download Reference Details box, select Citation (.ris) from the drop-down menu. 
  • Click Download in the bottom left of the box.
  • Save your file. Take note of the location and the filename.

In RefWorks, click the + (plus sign) on the top left of the toolbar and select Import References.

  • Under Import from a File, click Select a File from Your Computer (or use drag and drop) and locate the file you exported from SciFinder..
  • Select RIS format from the drop down list.
  • Click the Import button at the bottom of the box. Click Continue if another box pops up.
  • When you see Import Complete you are successful. Click OK.
  • References will be in the Last Imported folder.

For more detailed information, see the RefWorks tab on any subject guide, such as: http://libguides.jsu.edu/chemistry/refworks or the JSU Library RefWorks subject guide: http://libguides.jsu.edu/refworks