This Website is Not Just for Professional Scientists
Looking for a database that will challenge your honors and AP students? Take a look at our TOXNET database. We've introduced this website to teachers at the National Science Teachers Association and the National Association of Biology Teachers. To our surprise, teachers were eager to get back to the class and use it with their students.
So let's start with this one tidbit of information... Not all the information in TOXNET is applicable to the classroom. Here I will highlight two of the databases that seem most relevant.
ChemIDPlus Advanced - This is one of my favorite websites to share with teachers. With this site, teachers and students can look at 3D models of various chemical structures. Teachers can display SIS and TRANS models without the cumbersome ball and stick models you use in the classroom. With this database you can conduct similarity searches and view toxicity test results. To add an additional level of complexity to your lesson, have students explore the links to scientific journal articles.
Hazardous Substance Data Bank - Very complex but filled with useful information for those students who demonstrate an ability to work at a collegiate level. With this website students learn about the toxicology of potentially hazardous chemicals. They will research information on human exposure, environmental fate, chemical and physical properties, and more. Each section contains a summary section and abstracts to peer reviewed journal articles on the topic area covered.
Webmaster note: I'm not sure who, exactly, sent this to us, but it appears to be a government sponsored website for professional scientists offering quality chemical information available at no charge to classroom teachers and students also. --Randy Brull
kansas association of teachers of science