CHE 123: General Chemistry I: Interpreting the Merck Index

The Merck Index is an encylopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals. It's available in the reference section of the library. The most recent print edition is shelved at call number RS51 .M4.

The Merck Index is an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals with over 11,000 entries on single substances or groups of related compounds. It also includes an appendix with monographs on organic name reactions.

Monographs in the Merck Index typically contain:

• a CAS registry number (see example, 4101, right ->)
• synonyms of the substance
• the chemical formula
• molecular weight  (third line, in example ->)
• Percent composition (third line, in example ->)
• a structural formula
• a description of the substance's appearance
• melting point and boiling point (6 lines from botton in example)
• solubility in solventscommonly used in the laboratory (6 lines from botton in example)
• citations to other literature regarding the compound's chemical synthesis
• a therapeutic category, if applicable
• caution and hazard information (last line in example) 

Entries contain some bibliographic references. It may have references to methods of synthesis.

To use the printed volume of Merck Index:

1. Consult "Cross Index" to locate compound: (e.g., 2,4-Dintro-1-fluorobenzene see 4101)
2. 4101 IS NOT the page number. It is the entry number.
3. Once you locate the entry number, you will find the types of information as shown in the example.