Encyclopaedias and Dictionaries

Encyclopaedias, a work that aims at giving a comprehensive summary of all branches of knowledge. Such works are frequently called "general encyclopaedias", to distinguish them from "special encyclopedias", which are limited to a single field of knowledge or a group of allied fields. Encyclopedias usually consist of articles on separate subjects arranged in dictionary or alphabetical order to facilitate use. A classified arrangement or a combination of alphabetical and classifield arrangement is sometimes used.

Chemistry Encyclopaedias:

Kirk-Othmer encyclopedia of chemical technology

executive editor Jacqueline I. Kroschwitz ; editor Mary Howe-Grant. 4. ed. New York: Wiley. 1991-1998. 25 vols.
Kirk-Othmer was the editor of the first edition of this work. This encyclopeadia covers both chemical technology and pure chemistry. Articles are substantial - up to 20 pages - and contain comprehensive lists of references. Kirk-Othmer is arranged alphabetically and covers processes, apparatus, raw materials, products etc. It is a useful source of physical property data, but not all have been critically evaluated. The index gives CAS Registry Numbers for individual compounds. Kirk-Othmer is also available as a CD-ROM and online on the DIALOG Information Retrieval System.

Ullmann's encyclopedia of industrial chemistry

by Fritz Ullmann. 5. rev. ed. Weinheim: VCH. 1985-1996.
Ullmann was first published in 1914. The fifth edition is published in English. The encyclopedia covers both industrial and pure chemistry. It is published in two parts:
A: in alphabetical sequence, 28 volumes;
B: an eight part volume devoted to fundamental techniques.

Chemical and process technology encyclopedia

edited by D.M. Considine. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974, 1261 p.
This encyclopedia brings together the many facets of inorganic, organic and physical chemistry- and of chemical , metallurgical and process engineering. It is divided into three equal portions:
1) materials
2) energy, engineering and equipment
3) industrial and consumer products

Lange's handbook of chemistry

by Norberth Adolph Lange. 14. rev. ed. New York: McGraw-Hill , cop. 1992. 1472 p.
This handbook contains "inverted tables" where the arrangement is based on magnitude of a particular physical property and not by substance - e.g. boiling points, indexes of densities and refractive indexes. There are fewer mathematical and physical data than in the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, but general information, such as trade names and definitions of scientific and technical terms, is included.

Encyclopedic dictionary of chemical technology

by Dorit and Herman Noether. Weinheim: VCH , 1993. 297 p.
This encyclopaedic dictionary is designed to provide quick and easy access to the essential terminology of chemical technology. It is aimed at the non-specialist and general public as well as scientists and engineers.

The McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of chemistry

edited by Sybil P. Parker. 2. ed. New york: McGraw-Hill, cop. 1993. 1236 p.
The material collected in this encyclopaedia has previously been published in the 7th edition of the McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 1992.

Encyclopedia of chemical processing and design

edited by John J. McKetta, William A. Cunningham. New York, cop. 1976-.
This encyclopaedia is focussed towards chemical engineering.

Chemistry Encyclopaedias at KTU library:

Concise encyclopedia biochemistry and molecular biology.- Berlin ; New York, 1997.- 737 p.
Concise encyclopedia chemistry.- Berlin ; New York, 1994.- 1201 p.
Concise encyclopedia of composite materials.- Oxford, 1995.- xxix, 349 p.
Concise encyclopedia of polymer processing & applications.- Oxford, 1992.- xx, 771 p.
Encyclopedia of environmental information sources : a subject guide to about 34,000 print and other sources of information on all aspects of the environment.- Detroit, 1993.- 1813 p.
Encyclopedia of global industries.- Detroit, 1996.- 1034 p.
Encyclopedia of microbiology.- San Diego, 1992
Encyclopedia of reagents for organic synthesis.- Chichester...[etc.], 1995.- 8 vol.
Kirk, Raymond E. Encyclopedia of chemical technology.- New York
Modern plastics encyclopedia.- New York Plastikai-Enciklopedijos
The encyclopedia of advanced materials.- Oxford, 1994.- 4 v. Medziagos-Enciklopedijos

Dictionary - a list and explanation of the words of a language or the vocabulary of a particular subject. The words are arranged in alphabetical order. A language dictionary typically gives the orthography, pronunciation and meaning of each word, and sometimes its etymology and examples of usage. A dictionary of the words in a restricted field of knowledge usually only gives the meaning, although it may be more elaborate. In information retrieval, it can be used as synonymous with thesaurus.

Chemistry Dictionaries at KTU library:

A dictionary of chemistry.- Oxford, 1996.- 531 p.
Bray, Charles Dictionary of glass : materials and techniques.- London, 1995.-240 p.
Chemija-Anglu - lietuviu-Zodynai
Dictionary of environment and sustainable development.-Chichester, 1996.- xiii, 247 p.
Talacka, Vytautas Anglu-lietuviu kalbu chemijos ir chemines technologijos zodynas = English - Lithuanian dictionary of chemistry and chemical technology : apie 15500 zodziu.- Kaunas, 1994.- 294 p.
Gilpin, Alan Dictionary of environment and sustainable development.- Chichester, 1996.- xiii, 247 p.

You may either use a general encyclopaedia such as the New Encyclopaedia Britannica (Britannica Online), or a specialize publication such as McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. This provides broad coverage for the fields of science and technology, including biology and medicine. It consists of a series of articles which are usually illustrated and contain references to standard publications relating to the subject topic. The encyclopaedia is published in frequent editions, and is updated and complemented by the McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology.

There are many general dictionaries available on the web. A selection:

HUMBUL on-line dictionaries
iLoveLanguages - List of Dictionaries
i Tools Dictionaries for online look-up

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