The Chemical Engineer's Book Corner

Handbook of Hazardous Chemical Properties

Author(s): Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann

Summary:  This reference work from Cheremisinoff would make a nice addition to any plant library or lab book shelf.  Once you've located the chemical of interest, the necessary information is spelled out in an easy-to-understand format.  The books most valuable asset is it's toxicological information about each substance.  It's easy to see that the topic has been thoroughly researched. 

     The book is divided into the following main sections: 
Abbreviations
Glossary of Terms
Hazardous Chemical Property Entries
Synonyms Index

Layout:    The chemicals are arranged according to alphabetical order much like a dictionary.  Each entry can include information such as: chemical designation, observable characteristics, physical and chemical properties, health hazards information, fire hazards information, and chemical reactivity.

From the Book:

Highs:     Has alot of really good information on the most common industrial and consumer chemicals.  Used properly, could help shave valuable time from an injured employee in the chemical processing industry.

Lows:     As with any work of this type, finding the chemical that you're looking for may be difficult if it has many synonyms.  Organizing the book as a dictionary may work against it, but we like it better than organizing the substances by CAS numbers.

Overall:     This book could be a valuable resource if used by people who know the most common chemical names for substances.  The information offered inside is quite valuable and we like the way the information is presented.

Rating:       (out of four stars)

Star Guide: