Handbook of Physical Properties of Liquids and Gases - Reference Guide

In this review of the Handbook of Physical Properties of Liquids and Gases, the bottom line is simple: this is a practical, data-focused reference for scientists and engineers who need reliable numerical values for a wide range of substances. The volume compiles physical and thermodynamic properties using SI units throughout, and its inclusion of conversion tables makes it easy to work across unit systems. For those who regularly consult experimental data or need quick access to property values for calculations, this handbook is a dependable desk reference.

Key Features

• Comprehensive data coverage: The book provides numerical physical and thermodynamic properties for a large number of elements and compounds, making it a single source for many lookup needs.
• SI units used throughout: Values are presented consistently in SI units, helping to avoid unit-conversion errors in calculations and reports.
• Conversion tables included: An adequate set of conversion tables is provided so readers can translate values to other unit systems when necessary.
• Authoritative reference style: The presentation is focused on numeric data and reference utility, suitable for integration into engineering workflows and lab use.
• Wide subject relevance: Entries cover both pure substances and mixtures, making the book useful across physical chemistry and chemical engineering tasks.

Who It's For

This handbook is aimed at physical chemists, chemical engineers, laboratory researchers, and advanced students who frequently need validated numbers for thermodynamic and physical property calculations. Its clear focus on numerical data and unit consistency makes it well suited to professionals performing modeling, process design, or experimental data analysis.

Readers seeking a tutorial introduction to theory, step-by-step procedures, or extensive explanatory text will want a different resource, because this volume prioritizes reference data over pedagogy or worked examples.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Consolidates a large set of physical and thermodynamic numbers useful for rapid lookup in research and engineering.
• Uses SI units consistently to reduce conversion errors and support standard calculations.
• Includes conversion tables to translate values into alternate units when needed.

Cons

• Focused on numeric data rather than explanatory text, so it is not a teaching text for beginners.

Specifications

Title	Handbook of Physical Properties of Liquids and Gases: Pure Substances and Mixtures
Authors	N.B. Vargaftik, Y.S. Touloukian
Content type	Numerical data on physical and thermodynamic properties
Units	SI units throughout
Additional material	Conversion tables included
Audience	Physical chemists and chemical engineers

Our Verdict

This handbook is a solid, value-oriented reference for professionals who need accurate numerical properties for many substances. It excels as a compact data source with consistent SI units and useful conversion tables, making it worth keeping on the shelf for anyone doing thermodynamic calculations, process design, or experimental data evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book use metric units?
Yes. Values are presented in SI units throughout, and conversion tables are provided for other unit systems.

Is this a textbook with theory and examples?
No. The volume is a numerical reference focused on property data rather than instructional explanations or worked examples.

Who would benefit most from this book?
Physical chemists, chemical engineers, and researchers who need reliable property values for calculations and modeling will get the most value from this handbook.