"Chemistry, the central science, is growing today along interdisciplinary lines. Scientists, engineers, and technologists in many fields need knowledge of chemistry because of its importance in diverse technologies. These fields include electronics and communications, energy sources and conservation, waste handling and pollution abatement, biotechnology, molecular biology, and the development of pharmaceuticals and chemotherapeutic methodologies." "Updated for today's multidisciplinary readership, this new Fifth Edition of Van Nostrand's Encyclopedia of Chemistry preserves the qualities of the original Encyclopedia - accessibility, succinctness, and completeness - while encompassing a wider area of interest and the progress made in the past two decades. In addition to the classical topics, the new Encyclopedia covers the latest subjects." "This Fifth Edition features more than 1,350 entirely new articles, extensive revision and updates of more than 1,300 existing articles, and an expanded subject index. Topics still receive a progressive treatment - a simple definition leads to a more extensive discussion with print and Internet references - which makes this an essential resource for both students and experienced practitioners. This edition also features many more tables and graphs, as well as more interior references for greater ease in understanding the full extent of a subject. The sophistication and specialization of today's chemistry is well served by the many expert contributors from industry and academia." "Revised and expanded to reflect the latest scholarship and technology, Van Nostrand's Encyclopedia of Chemistry, Fifth Edition still represents the benchmark chemical reference for individual researchers and students and is an essential part of any academic or industrial library."--BOOK JACKET.