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Chemotion ELN
What Chemotion ELN is
Chemotion ELN is a web-based electronic laboratory notebook for research data, with a focus on chemistry. It organizes projects into collections and supports records for samples, reactions, wellplates, research plans, QR codes, barcodes, and analytical data through ChemSpectra. Sample records can include molecular structures, amounts, and properties such as purity; reaction records can capture conditions and products. Instrument data, including examples from NMR, GC, and LC, can be added by email, networked storage, or manual transfer. Selected information can move to Chemotion Repository for sharing and archiving, and the system supports OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool. Institutions can install it on their own IT facilities, with Docker-based installation documented. Academic researchers can use the project freely, and a test instance is available for demonstrations and time-limited evaluation, though data may be lost and some functions are unavailable. It requires a network connection and has no standalone version. Chrome is recommended; some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge. The team recommends upgrading installations at least every three months for updates and security patches.
Who it suits
It suits chemistry researchers and institutions that want to manage laboratory records on their own IT facilities. The project also notes interest from biochemistry and other fields.
What it does well
- Free use by academic researchers is a stated principle.
- Records cover samples, reactions, and analytical data.
- Selected information can transfer to Chemotion Repository.
- Supports OpenStats and a TLC annotation tool.
- Multiple authentication options are available.
What to know first
- Requires a network connection; no standalone version is available.
- Some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge.
- Demo data may be lost, and some functions are unavailable.
- Versioning and auditing systems are still being worked on.
Limits
The free test version is for demonstration and time-limited evaluation; data may be lost and some functions are unavailable. Browser functionality is limited in some areas in Firefox and Edge.
Getting started
- Visit the Chemotion website and open the freely available test version for demonstration or time-limited evaluation.
- For an institutional installation, arrange hosting on a group, institution, or university IT facility.
- Use the documented Docker-based installation; Docker Engine and Docker Compose are required.
- Choose an available authentication option, such as database login, Shibboleth, OpenID Connect, ORCID, GitHub, or NFDI AAI.
- Use Chrome for the recommended browser experience.
Verdict
Chemotion ELN offers chemistry-focused research records with institutional deployment and sharing options. Users should account for its network requirement, browser limitations, and the stated gaps in versioning and auditing.
Questions
Is Chemotion ELN free?
The project states that free access and use by academic researchers is one of its principles. A freely available test version is also offered for demonstrations and time-limited evaluation.
Which platforms does Chemotion ELN support?
It is web-based and can be installed on Linux, macOS, and Windows environments. It requires a network connection and has no standalone version.
Can a research institution host Chemotion ELN?
Yes. A group, institution, or university can install it on its own IT facilities, with Docker-based installation documented.
Which browsers are recommended?
Chrome is recommended. Firefox and Edge have limited functionality in some areas, including collection management and ChemSpectra.
Can Chemotion ELN connect to other tools?
It supports OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool, and can transfer selected research information to Chemotion Repository.
What should users know about the test version?
It is intended for demonstrations and time-limited evaluation. Data may be lost, and some functions, including the SciFinder plug-in, are unavailable.
Facts from Chemotion ELN's own pages
- Academic access
- The project describes free access and use by academic researchers as one of its principles. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Audit limitations
- The FAQ says versioning and auditing systems are currently being worked on. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- Authentication options include database login and configurable third-party providers such as Shibboleth, OpenID Connect, ORCID, GitHub, and NFDI AAI; the page says database passwords are hashed. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Browser limitation
- Chrome is recommended; Firefox and Edge have limited functionality in some areas, including collection management and ChemSpectra. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Demo
- A freely available test version is offered for demonstration and time-limited evaluation; the page cautions that data may be lost and some functions are unavailable. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- For routine use, groups, institutions, or universities can install Chemotion ELN on their own IT facilities using ChemCLI or a manual installation. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- External tools
- The documentation lists OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool as supported third-party applications, which administrators can configure to receive compatible datasets. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Free access
- The project states that free access and free use by academic researchers is one of its principles. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Instrument data
- Device data can be collected through email, networked storage, or manual transfer, with documented examples covering analytical instruments including NMR, GC, and LC. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The ELN supports OpenStats and a TLC Image Annotation Tool as third-party applications. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project says the ELN was initially targeted at chemists and has attracted interest from other fields, particularly biochemistry. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Network and browser
- Chemotion ELN is web-based, requires a network connection, and recommends Chrome; the documentation says some functionality is limited in Firefox and Edge. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Network requirement
- Chemotion ELN is web based and requires a network connection; the FAQ says there is currently no standalone version. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Operating requirements
- Suggested minimum installation resources are 4 x64 CPUs, 8 GB memory, and 300 GB disk for the operating system, Docker, and ELN, plus at least 100 GB for each attached device. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Chemotion ELN is an open-source electronic laboratory notebook for research data management, initially aimed at chemists and also used by researchers in fields including biochemistry. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Reactions
- Users can document reactions involving samples and record reaction conditions and products. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Repository connection
- The ELN can connect to the Chemotion Repository to transfer selected research information for sharing and archiving. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Research records
- The ELN organizes projects in collections and supports samples, reactions, wellplates, research plans, QR codes, barcodes, and analytical data through ChemSpectra. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Sample records
- Sample records can include molecular structure, amount, and compound properties such as purity. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The documentation says Chemotion passwords are encrypted and describes password hashing for database authentication. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Accounts belong to individual users, while sharing elements and assigning roles is possible through shared and synchronized collections. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can contact the team through the Helpdesk, and the project offers a live demo and Q&A session every three months plus introductions or group workshops on request. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
- Support and maintenance
- The team recommends upgrading an instance at least once every three months to receive new features, bug fixes, and security patches. · chemotion.net, 4 Oct 2026
- Supported host systems
- ChemCLI builds are listed for Linux amd64, Windows amd64, macOS Apple silicon, and macOS amd64; Docker Engine and Docker Compose are required. · chemotion.net, 5 Oct 2026
Where Chemotion ELN stands on Freedom251
- Electronic Lab Notebook Software#5 of 23