Open Textbooks
- OpenStax Chemistry
Free PDF textbook designed for the two-semester general chemistry course. - Boundless — Chemistry
An open textbook on a variety of introductory chemistry topics.
- ChemWiki Core
UC Davis’s ChemWiki includes modules on the core information in the fields of organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
- Concept Development Studies in Chemistry
Written by John Hutchinson of Rice University, this resource is an on-line textbook for an Introductory General Chemistry course.
- Organic Chemistry with a Biological Emphasis
From UC Davis’s ChemWiki, this textbook uses biological molecules and biochemical reactions to explain and illustrate the central concepts of organic chemistry.
Open Textbook Collections (if applicable)
Multimedia
- YouTube
- Search YouTube by keyterms and try filtering by channel or “Creative Commons” license (these videos are specifically labeled for reuse).
- Some good channels:
- YouTube-produced “CrashCourse” series
- New Scientist
- Science Magazine
- Nature Video
- Reactions Everyday Chemistry (series from ACS that uncovers the chemistry in everyday life)
- American Chemical Society
- Bozeman Science
- Videos by Armando Hasudungan (good example of using art to communicate science)
- Tip: try searching YouTube by the title of your favorite journal publication to see if that journal also produces a YouTube channel.
- TED Talks
- A collection of TED Talks and playlists related to Chemistry.
- Khan Academy
- Lecture videos from 1-30 minutes in length
- Videos through the CSUSM Library
- Try changing up keywords based on your specific interest/topic. Limits used: Full Text Available Online and Audio Visual.
- Library Media Reserves, including Video on Demand option (allows you to stream videos to CSUSM students). Keep in mind that you should leave at least 1 week of lead time for processing these requests.
- Podcasts
- Science Elements Podcast (weekly digest of research from the American Chemical Society)
- Periodic Table (podcast on each element from the Royal Society of Chemistry)
- Chemistry World (monthly podcast from the Royal Society of Chemistry)
Ebooks in the Library
The CSUSM University Library has an extensive collection of ebooks on a variety of topics. To find what’s available:
- Go to the University Library homepage
- Choose “Books and More”
- Enter keywords and search
- Use the limiters to narrow by “Full Text Online” to ensure all results can be accessed directly from your computer
- Limit by “Books” to filter out journals and media
Chemistry and Biochemistry Ebooks – CSUSM Library (optional: update after June 30, 2017)
Journal Articles
Consider including journal articles as required or supplemental reading for your courses. Search through our chemistry databases for articles. Just be sure to direct students to the article by permalink (or static URL) rather than posting the PDF directly in your Cougar Course. This will ensure two things: 1) that we are complying with copyright and publisher restrictions, and 2) that our journal usage is counted (this allows us to justify maintaining our subscriptions).
This page provides examples illustrating how to find permalinks in the Library’s databases.
Please contact your librarian if you are still unsure of how to find the permalink.
Other CSUSM Library Resources
More information about finding and using library resources can be found on the Chemistry & Biochemistry Research Guide.
Suggestions
Have a good idea for a free resource? Tell us about it! Email your subject specialist.
Open Courseware