Through ten previous editions, Gardner's Chemical Synonyms and Trade Names has become one of the best known and most widely used sources of information on chemicals in commerce. This edition includes the results of the continuing research underlying this reference work and has seen a major expansion of the information provided for individual chemical compounds. The reference contains some 35,000 entries, many of which are new to this edition. Gardner's features a comprehensive selection of chemicals. The main criterion for inclusion in Gardner's is a material's importance as a commercially available chemical. Thus all bulk inorganic chemicals, major pesticides, dyestuffs, surfactants, metals and alloys are included. The 5,000 highest volume chemicals in the US, as defined by application of the Toxic Substances Control Act, are all represented. Almost all records describing pure chemicals now carry the appropriate CAS Registry Number and the associated EINECS number. In addition, the Merck Index Number is provided for all chemicals which also appear in the Twelfth Edition of the Merck Index.
Entries, wherever possible, contain detailed information on chemical composition, functions, applications and suppliers. A feature new to this edition is the inclusion of physical property data for pure chemicals. Data that has been provided, as available, includes the melting point, boiling point, density or specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation, ultraviolet absorption, solubility and acute toxicity. Thousands of new synonyms have been included in Gardner's to make it one of the most comprehensive sources of chemical synonym information available. Overall, both the structure of Gardner's and the quality of the information it contains have been greatly improved in this edition. The result is a reference tool that no chemical professional should be without.

Revised by: G. W. A. Milne