Independent+Project

**//Remember, a pathfinder is just the beginning of building your bibliography. There are many more sources available in print and online. Ask a librarian if you need help finding more sources.//**

Honors Chemistry Project:
//Below are a list of possible topics that you may want to research for your chemistry project://
 * Construction- pressure treated lumber, concrete, asphalt, heating/cooling systems
 * Sports- athletic shoes, astroturf, protective gear, mountain bikes, shock absorbent floors, snow making
 * Medicine/consumer products- generic vs. non-generic meds, nail polish, suntan lotion, topical pain relievers, cleansers, pain killers
 * Food- chocolate, pancakes, freezing, preservatives, coffee, sugar, wine, cheese
 * Human physiology- metabolism and energy, vitamins, cholesterol, weight loss drugs, supplements
 * Environment- acid rain, recycling, ozone layer, water treatment
 * Gardening- fertilizers, weed killer, organics, irradiation
 * Food- baking soda and powder, milk, fat and sugar substitutes, cooking of meats, food additives
 * Miscellaneous- art materials, gasoline, CDs, plasma TVs, adhesives, batteries, stained glass, nuclear chemistry, cars

Reference materials
This is the place to start any research project. Encyclopedias offer short, authoritative information on every topic. These books cannot leave the library. >
 * Encyclopaedia Britannica
 * **R 540 C** Cobb, Cathy. //The joy of chemistry : the amazing science of familiar things.// 2005.
 * **R 540 RIT** Rittner, Don. //Encyclopedia of chemistry.// 2005.

Books
Non-fiction books about this topic are found in various sections of the library. Do a keyword search using the online catalog (**Destiny**) to find more books.
 * Google Books- Google has a huge collection of digitized books that are useful for this project. For example: if you are studying the chemistry make up of cheese, search for: **cheese** and **chemistry.**
 * **507.8 H** Hann, Judith. //How science works.// Pleasantville, NY : Reader's Digest Association, c1991.
 * **540.3 MAC V.1** //Macmillan encyclopedia of chemistry.// New York : Macmillan Reference USA, 1997.

WHS databases
Log into any of these databases by clicking on the link. If you are away from home, you will have to use a remote username and/or password. These can be found on the Library Media Center brochure. Make sure to take one home before leaving school!
 * [|Infotrac: Student Edition] try searching using keyword for the type of science (ex. chemistry) and a keyword for what you are researching (ex. antacid*). The star at the end of the word will help you pull information about both "antacid" and "antacids".
 * Science Online This database is useful for all science related projects. You will be able to find encyclopedia entries, articles, picture and multimedia resources on biology, chemistry, physics, science, forensic science, computer science, environmental science, etc.

Internet sites

 * Science.gov this site searches over 40 scientific databases and over 2000 selected websites, offering 200 million pages of authoritative U.S. government science information, including research and development results.
 * National Science Digital Library - a great site to search for science specific information for your projects. They have useful videos and images that help to illustrate important concepts.
 * Internet Public Library- science this is a list of useful links for getting more background information about your topic.