Gmelin Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie
BSL Main collection 546 G569

Gmelin is a major handbook of data and information on inorganic and organometallic compounds. Earlier volumes are in German sometimes with English captions, more recent volumes (1982 until 1995, when the Library stopped receiving Gmelin) are in English.

Arrangement

Each element has a Gmelin system number and volumes are arranged on the shelves by this system number
e.g. Cu has system number 60.

To find the system number for an element, consult the periodic table on the inside front cover of any of the formula indexes. The Gmelin system number for each element is shown in green.

Within a system number there may be several volumes on the element and its inorganic or organometallic compounds, labelled A1, B1, Supp1 etc. Each volume has a detailed table of contents.

For translation of terms in earlier German volumes, German chemistry and science dictionaries are in the Reference collection at 660.03 G878d, 540.3 E71, 503 D51g.4, 503 D696.2.

Formula indexes

The 3 sets of formula indexes shelved at the end of the main set of Gmelin volumes can be used to find a substance. The indexes cover to 1974, to 1979 and to 1987 respectively.

Formulae are arranged alphabetically. The indexes refer to the Gmelin system number, volume/part number and pages. For example, for CuS:

CuS: Chemical reactions............60(Cu):..........Hb/B1 - 478/82

look in System number 60, Hauptband (Main series volume) part B1 pages 478-82.