ChemSOF is being developed to provide chemical engineering calculators, worked examples, and explanatory guides. This policy describes the approach intended for selecting, checking, citing, and maintaining the sources and data used in those resources.
The suitability of an equation or property value depends on its definition, conditions, and intended application. ChemSOF aims to give readers enough context to understand the basis and limits of the information presented.
Sources We May Use
Depending on the topic, ChemSOF may consult:
- Textbooks and engineering handbooks for established concepts and methods.
- Peer-reviewed papers and technical literature for research, correlations, and their underlying assumptions.
- Reference databases for physical properties and other technical data.
- Standards and guidance documents where relevant to the subject and accessible for review.
- Official software documentation for models, functions, units, and version-specific behavior.
- Manufacturer documentation for information about a particular product or item of equipment.
The inclusion of a source in this list does not mean that ChemSOF uses every source in that category for every resource. References should reflect the material actually consulted.
How Sources Are Assessed
A source should be considered in relation to the question it is used to answer. Relevant factors can include the author or publishing organization, the method of producing the information, the date and edition, the source’s original context, and any stated limitations.
Where practical, ChemSOF aims to consult an original publication or authoritative documentation for an equation, correlation, or dataset. A secondary source can be useful for explanation or background, but an original source should not be described as having been consulted if it was not reviewed.
A recent publication is not automatically the most appropriate source for every calculation. Conversely, an older method may require review to determine whether its assumptions and range remain suitable for the intended use.
Physical Property Data
Properties such as density, viscosity, heat capacity, and vapor pressure can vary with conditions and with the method used to obtain them. When a value is presented or used, the following details should be identified where relevant and available:
- The substance, composition, and phase.
- Temperature and pressure or other applicable state conditions.
- The value, units, and calculation basis.
- Whether the value is measured, estimated, or calculated from a model.
- The source, edition or dataset version, and stated uncertainty where available.
A property value used in an illustrative example should be understood in the context of that example. It may not be suitable for another fluid, mixture, or operating condition.
Equations and Correlations
When presenting an equation or correlation, ChemSOF aims to explain the variables and units, identify the source or method, and state important assumptions and validity limits.
Correlation coefficients must be used with the equation form, units, and range for which they were reported. Similar-looking equations may use different conventions. For that reason, source details matter when a reader attempts to reproduce a result.
If a calculation uses interpolation, extrapolation, or a simplifying approximation, the method and its implications should be described where they affect interpretation.
Citations and Attribution
References should make it reasonably possible for readers to identify the source. Depending on the material, a citation may include an author or organization, title, publisher or journal, year, edition or version, page or section, and a DOI or URL.
ChemSOF aims to distinguish an original source from a source that quotes or summarizes it. Links and citations provide context and credit. They do not imply that a source provider has reviewed or endorsed ChemSOF’s work.
Where a source is unavailable to readers or access requires a subscription, ChemSOF aims to identify it clearly rather than suggest that it can be accessed freely.
Third-Party Data and Software
A calculator may use a third-party dataset, software library, or property model when it is appropriate for the task. Its relevant documentation, model scope, version, and usage conditions should be reviewed before integration.
Access to data or software does not automatically establish permission to reproduce, redistribute, or incorporate it. ChemSOF aims to consider applicable licenses, attribution requirements, and other conditions before reuse. Any third-party data or software used remains subject to its own terms.
Differences and Uncertainty
Sources can report different values or recommend different methods. Differences may arise from measurement conditions, composition, reference states, rounding, model choice, or other factors.
ChemSOF aims to explain material differences when they affect a result or a reader’s choice of method. If a value is estimated or its uncertainty is known, that context should be included where relevant. When a limitation cannot be resolved, it should not be presented as a certainty.
Review, Updates, and Corrections
Sources, data, and documentation may change. ChemSOF may review and update a resource when new information becomes available, a source is revised, or an issue is reported.
A change to data, a coefficient, or a method can affect calculator results. Such changes should be assessed and tested as appropriate, with the relevant version or change noted where useful to readers. Suspected errors can be reported through the Contact page. The Corrections Policy and Calculation Development & Validation page describe the intended review process.
Suggest a Source or Report a Concern
Readers are welcome to suggest a source, identify missing attribution, or report data that appears incorrect or out of context. Please provide the ChemSOF page URL, the detail in question, and a reference or explanation that can help us review it.
This policy may be updated as ChemSOF’s resources and data practices develop.
chemsof-sources-data-policy.md