It is a great reference for serious scientists. Don't bother though if you just like reading the stuff because it's mostly just charts and tables with a little bit of text. The particle review and the sections on the properties of organic and inorganic compounds are great. It has lists and structural formulas for every substance known at the time of publication.

For 50 years this has been one of my primary reference works, and it still is. It's essential. But over the years, as knowledge has expanded and the book has expanded, the editors have had to make more and more hard choices about what to include and what to leave out. By now, so much is necessarily left out of a single-volume work that I find it less useful than I used to.

For example, if I want to find out about the chemistry and toxicology of thorium compounds and the decay processes of thorium isotopes, the CRC handbook doesn't give me enough information to be useful; I must consult more specialized works. Similarly, if I'm interested in a chemical as widely used as hydrogen peroxide, I cannot find enough information here to help me determine the reactivity and hazards of aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide in various concentrations; this is essential information for anyone working with hydrogen peroxide in concentrations varying from 30% to 85%.

Whether it's kept in a single-volume format or not, I will continue to regard this as an essential reference on my bookshelf, and every few years will buy an updated copy. However, I wish the editors would disentangle it into a series of more specialized volumes, to allow better treatment of much of the material.

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!

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!

Insightful, informative and thought provoking. In a sense a Maverick, by standing up to APICS and finding fault with MRP, Lilly provides a very good historical perspective on how he came to fulfill a "make to order" systems software need. In spite of a mild product "sell", it is must reading for anyone in manufacturing with throughput concerns. Is it up there with The Goal? No. But it certainly makes a very good companion to Goldratt's book and Everything I Learned About Manufacturing, I Learned in Joe's Garage. Jim Altfeld, Altfeld, Inc. Strategic Corporate, Marketing and Sales Planning

I just received the Handbook of Surface and Colloid Chemistry. According to the review there should be a lot of data listed in the handbook. However I only found some listing of solubility parameter data. WHERE IS THE LIST OF SURFACE TENSION OR SURFACE ENERGY DATA ? Chang Hsiung

The review from "Reviewer: A reader from USA" (see above) is referring to a different handbook, nameley the "Handbook of Surface and Colloid Chemistry." However, this page is referring to the "CRC Handbook of Thermophysical and Thermochemical Data/Book and Disk" which is totally different handbook. Please make the necessary adjustments and remove his review from this page.