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Summary: Excellent source of conversion tables&chemistry information
Review: This book contains several different tables including: conversion tables for nearly every conceivable unit of measure, physical properties of thousands of organic and inorganic compounds, minerals, chemical bond strength information, superconductors, semiconductors, caloric values of food, polymers
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Summary: A FORMIDABLE SUPERLATIVE GEM
Review: Very useful and very relevant, nearly all the chapters of this edition of "CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics" have been revised. The book is up-to-date, and provides extensive coverage on all the significant physico-chemical phenomena. Chemists, physicists, biochemists, engineers, pharmacists, and other scientists and professionals would value this textbook. Its CD-ROM version would be of great benefit to mobile users.
I was impressed by the way it analyzed molecular interactions in each of the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Electron transfer, and transformations of pure substances were the focus here. Its biochemical section simplified many of the physiological reactions that are often considered complex.
In the same vein, I am certain that most readers would appreciate the classical exposure which optics, thermodynamics, geophysics, nuclear chemistry, and atomic physics sections received. All the recent advances in rotational and vibrational spectroscopy were included. David Lide did a commendable job in moulding this 2700-paged single-volume gem.
Each chapter indulged in practical analysis; with suggestions on how to improve day-to-day applications. Safety measures, as well as guidelines on how to cope with industrial and laboratory hazards were provided. Also, further information sources were made avalaible in one of its numerous appendices.
This is surely an outstanding text: no major weaknesses! It is a formidable reference tool that would please scientists and allied professionals. I recommend it with all pleasure!
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Summary: a critical reference for chemists
Review: While this doesn't contain *everything* for a single topic, it certainly contains all that a chemist usually needs for easy reference about chemistry and physics.If you (or your current copy of the CRC) are a bit older, you'll probably find some sections in the new edition missing - e.g., no more trigonometry tables with the proliferation of cheap calculators - and new things added. This is the sort of book which has SO much stuff, you will never use it all - but it will (almost) always be able to help you. This is the one reference book I was willing to pay for out of pocket, whether or not my employer paid for it. I found a 1927 copy of this at a used book store a few years ago ... - I still have it, and believe it or not, I do use it. It's got really neat stuff the modern editions don't. Which is why you shouldn't hesitate to drop [money] for one today. It will still be useful 60 years from now. This is not the sort of thing I would replace annually!
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