📖 Overview
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics serves as a comprehensive reference source for scientific data, containing thousands of tables of chemical and physical properties. This reference volume has been continuously updated and published since 1913, making it one of the longest-running scientific reference works.
The handbook covers fundamental physical constants, thermodynamic properties, atomic and molecular data, material properties, and mathematical formulas essential to chemistry and physics work. Tables and data sets are organized by topic with clear indexing, allowing researchers and students to locate specific information rapidly.
The content undergoes regular review by experts to maintain accuracy and incorporate new scientific findings in each edition. The handbook exists in both print and digital formats, with the digital version offering enhanced search capabilities.
This reference work represents the ongoing quest to compile and standardize scientific knowledge, reflecting the evolution of chemistry and physics through systematic data collection and verification.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently describe the CRC Handbook as a comprehensive reference for scientific data, with many noting its value as a standard laboratory resource.
Liked:
- Organization of data makes information quick to locate
- Includes both common and obscure chemical/physical properties
- Regular updates incorporate new research findings
- Available in both print and digital formats
- Durable binding holds up to lab use
Disliked:
- High price point ($200+) for personal copies
- Digital version interface needs improvement
- Some data tables lack clear citations
- Print size can be difficult to read
- Updates mean older editions become outdated
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.7/5 from 280 reviews
Goodreads: 4.5/5 from 156 ratings
Notable comments:
"Invaluable for checking experimental values" - Chemistry professor on Amazon
"The search function in the electronic version is frustrating" - Graduate student reviewer
"Worth the investment for any serious lab" - Research chemist review
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔬 The CRC Handbook has been published annually since 1913, earning it the nickname "The Science Bible" among researchers and academics.
⚗️ The 2023 version contains over 2,000 pages of data, with physical constants measured to the highest degree of accuracy currently possible.
📚 Originally titled the "Rubber Handbook" because it was created for rubber industry chemists, it expanded to become one of the most comprehensive scientific reference books in history.
🎓 Editor David R. Lide served as the Chief of the Office of Standard Reference Data at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) and was president of the Committee on Data for Science and Technology.
🌍 The handbook is translated into multiple languages and used in laboratories worldwide, with many scientists considering it the most reliable source for chemical and physical property data.