1. Overview
The Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry (Handbuch der Anorganischen Chemie) or simply Gmelin is a multi-volume collection of data and information on inorganic and organometallic compounds. Most of the print volumes are available in the Lockwood Science & Engineering Reference Collection (call number REF QD 151.G63) on the first floor of the Lockwood Library. We stopped purchasing Gmelin in 1993, and print Gmelin ceased publication in 1997. Most but not all 1994-1997 volumes have been acquired by the library on the used book market.
Since 1971, organometallics are heavily covered, except for compounds with Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba central atoms. Those excepted compounds are covered in the Beilstein Handbook. Included in Gmelin are compounds with metal-carbon bonds except carbides, cyanides, cyanates, and thiocyanate.
The print edition ceased publication at the end of 1997, however our University at Buffalo's subscription ended in 1993. As affordable used volumes become available, they are being purchased by our library. UB does not subscribe to the electronic version available exclusively on the Elsevier platform,Reaxys. The print and electronic versions are not equivalent with each version containing significant content not found in the other format.
Volumes published after about 1982 are published in English. Although volumes prior to 1982 are in German, English table of contents and section headings in the page margins are provided for all but the very oldest volumes. Patrons willing to take on the challenges of using a mostly German language source are rewarded by the superb and comprehensive content of this resource.
Gmelin contains such information as:
An advantage to using Gmelin is that it covers professional literature prior to 1907 not covered by SciFinder (Chemical Abstracts). In addition, Gmelin often provides the actual physical data and tables rather than just a reference to the original scientific literature and patents. However, researchers should always consult both Gmelin and SciFinder as unique material will be found in both resources.
A complete list of all published print Gmelin volumes was scanned by the University Libraries and made publicly available with the permission of the publisher.
Gmelin is divided into 71 sets of volumes, each covering an element or, for minor elements, a group of elements, e.g. rare earths. Each set has one or more main volumes and usually a number of supplemental volumes covering new information. Each element (or group of elements) is assigned a unique System Number which has no relationship to its atomic number. The numbering sequence starts with rare gases and progresses to the heavier metals. The system numbers are assigned so that the elements which commonly form cations have a higher system number than those which commonly form anions. Thus, the system arranges compounds under the most electropositive element. To find the system number for an element, consult the periodic table on the inside cover of any of the Formula Indexes. (Lockwood Library Reference QD 151 G632).
Obviously, all compounds contain 2 or more elements. Each compound is published in the set for the element with the highest system number. For example, UOCl2 is published in the Uranium volume, since the system number for U is 55, for O is 3, and for Cl is 6.
How is Gmelin shelved on the reference shelves?
The Gmelin volumes are organized on the Lockwood Science & Engineering Reference shelves in alphabetical order according to element symbol even though each volume is labeled on the spine by the system number. Thus, system numbers on the shelf are not in order. It is important to first find out from the Formula Index what the element symbol and system number is before approaching the volumes. To find the system number for an element, consult the periodic table on the inside front cover of any formula index. The Gmelin system number for each element is shown in green. Note: the yellow inserts on the shelf tell you where the element group begins. The supplemental works have the abbreviation of the element on the spine of each volume.
3. Additional Reference Materials
Comprehensive Organometallic Chemistry I, II, & III
Dictionary of Organometallic Compounds, 5 vols., 2nd ed., 1995
Lockwood Science & Engineering Reference QD 411 D53 1995
Dictionary of Inorganic Compounds, 5 vols, 1st ed, 1992
Lockwood Science & Engineering Reference QD 148 D53 1992
Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry, 10 vols, 2nd ed, 2005
Lockwood Science & Engineering Reference QD 148 E53 2005
