Preface

The Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, continuing the policy of the past, is being revised at frequent intervals.

The general features and scheme of arrangement, which have received extensive endorsement in former editions have been retained. The aim throughout has been to present in condensed form as large amount of accurate, reliable and up-to-date information on the fields of chemistry and physics as was consistent with convenience in form and possibility of wide distribution and utility. A very large portion of the tables have been compiled especially for the Handbook from various authoritative collections of data from current journals and bulletins. Credit and acknowledgement are cited in such instances.

Since the beginning, special consideration has been given to requests and suggestions of those who have used former editions. In this way it has been hoped to develop the book along the lines most acceptable to those interested in a volume of this type. Suggestions and contributions are received each year from eminent chemists and physicists including those in the teaching profession and those engaged in research in industry. We believe this to have been of great value in the growth and development of the Handbook.

An attempt has been made to include material on all branches of chemistry, physics, and the closely allied sciences, which would be likely to find any extended use. However, in order to retain the convenience of moderate dimensions and of a single volume and at the same time allow for the natural growth due to the extension of knowledge in these sciences, and logical additions along the lines already developed, there has been the necessity to exclude types of material for use only in highly specialized lines of work.

Chemistry and physics, always closely related sciences, have been brought into more intimate relations by the more recent research results and discoveries. To an increasing extent the student of either science should have knowledge of the other. It would seem there should be a large field for a single volume containing constants, formulas, conversion tables, and physical data adequate for accurate computations. The generous response which the previous 63 editions have met indicates that the volumes have been found useful and it is with the hope of more nearly completely meeting the needs of chemists and physicists that this edition and succeeding editions are offered.

This current edition contains an extensive table on the Optical Properties of Metals in addition to tables on the Resistivities of Semi-Conducting Minerals and Minerals Listed in Order of Increasing Vickers Hardness. There has been extensive revision and expansion of the tables: Solubility Product Constants and the Electrochemical Series. Further revisions include the section dealing with the description of the Elements, the tables of Strengths of Chemical Bonds, Elements in the Earth’s Crust, Elements in Sea Water, and Particle Properties with the latter including properties for stable particles, Mesons and Baryons. The nomenclature of the sugars which appear in the Organic Table has been updated and the structures of such sugars have been redrawn. The Handbook continues to list the publications of the National Standard Reference Data System Publications, and those of Fachinformation have been added.

There have been some errors in the book which have been called to the attention of the editor. All of these have been corrected in this edition. As always, suggestions for further improvement of the book are welcome and appreciated.

R. C. Weast
March, 1983