To locate books on your topic, use the UCSB Library Search. As a starting point, use a keyword search on the likely terms. For collections of data, add handbooks or tables to your keywords.
If you find a relevant record, check its subject headings to see if there is alternative terminology you should try. Similarly, use keyword searches to find books on particular analytical methods (mass spectrometry, atomic absorption). You may also want to browse in the book stacks. Useful call nubmer ranges include:
Landolt-Börnstein (QC 61 .L3)
This large set of data tables for physics and chemistry has been
published over the past 90+ years. UCSB owns a partial print set (see
the call number above), but the set from 1918-2009 is available online to
UCSB users. The series is divided into broad groupings as follows:
At present, our print copy is in off-campus storage. The online archive may be browsed by the title of individual volumes; there is currently no full-text searching of the online archive.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry (Internet resource only)
This encyclopedia, published by the Institute of Physics (the primary society for physicists in the UK) in 2001, comprises three volumes on fundamentals, methods and applications in chemical physics and physical chemistry.
Encyclopedia of Computational Chemistry (SEL Ref QD 39.3 .E46 E53 1998)
This five-volume encyclopedia has brief articles on all aspects of computational chemistry methods and applications, with good indexing and bibliographies.
Encyclopedia of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SEL Ref QC 762 .E53 1996)
This encyclopedia has eight volumes (published in 1996) with brief articles on all aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance theory, methods and applications, with a ninth "Advances in NMR" volume added in 2002. The articles have good bibliographies, and the set is well indexed.
Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy and Spectrometry (SEL Ref QD 95 .E55 2000)
This three-volume encyclopedia has brief articles on theory, methods and applications in nearly all areas of spectroscopy. The articles have good bibliographies, and the set is well indexed.
Handbook of Molecular Physics and Quantum Chemistry (SEL Ref QD 461 .H25 2003)
This three-volume handbook devotes its first volume to "Fundamentals", the second to "Molecular Electronic Structure" and the third to "Molecules in the Physico-Chemical Environment: Spectroscopy, Dynamics and Bulk Properties". The articles are detailed, by experts in their fields, with good references and cross-referencing.
Catalysis from A to Z (SEL Ref QD 505 .C383 2003)
A one-volume dictionary of terms and concepts in catalysis.
Encyclopedia of Catalysis (SEL Ref QD 505 .E53 2003)
This six-volume encyclopedia has chapters by experts in their respective fields on various aspects of the theory and application of homogenous, heterogenous and biological catalysis. Detailed, with good bibliographies.
Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science (SEL Ref QD 506 .E52 2002)
A four-volume encyclopedia containing brief, highly specific articles on aspects of surface and colloid science. Somewhat difficult to use by browsing, it is fortunately well-indexed.