Book excerpt: This volume dictionary brings together accurate chemical, structural and bibliographic data on the most commonly used reagents in the various branches of analytical chemistry. Covering both organic and inorganic compounds, the "Dictionary of Analytical Reagents" contains over 5,000 reagents significant in analytical chemistry, grouped into 5,000 entries. All the reagents included in the dictionary have been synthesized, characterized by or are of proven use to analytical chemists. Compiled by a distinguished board of leading figures in the world of analytical chemistry, each an expert in their own specialist field, the "Dictionary of Analytical Reagents" is a companion volume to the renowned "Dictionary of Organic Compounds" and follows a similar format. The dictionary is arranged in such a way as to facilitate browsing, with entries ordered alphabetically by entry name (often its trivial name). Clearly laid out in an easy-to-follow manner, each entry contains a wealth of data invaluable to the analytical chemist including synonyms, analytical applications, extensive and up-to-date hazard/toxicity data, solubility, dissociation constant and selected references labelled to indicate their content (e.g. analytical application, spectral data, synthesis). High quality structure diagrams are included to assist the analytical chemist in identifying the reagent needed and are drawn to standard orientations. Coverage extends to metal extractants, spectrophotometric reagents, indicators, fluorescence labelling reagents, resolving agents, nmr shift reagents and reference standards, buffers, gc and ms derivatisation reagents, amperometric reagents, titrimetric and gravimetric reagents, biological stains and dyes. Compounds are comprehensively indexed by Name, Molecular Formula, CAS Registry Number and Type of Compound. The unique Type of Compound Index is particularly valuable as compounds are indexed by use (eg NMR shift reagent), by analyte (eg nickel) and by compound group (eg formazan, crown ether), making the data accessible by a variety of criteria. Thus, chemists can use the dictionary to find information on how to analyze for a particular substance, how a particular compound may be used as an analytical reagent or what other reagents are available for a specific analytical use. Having located all appropriate reagents via the index, the user can then browse through the entries to obtain specific data, all fully referenced in the selective bibliography. Analytical chemists - be they in the manufacturing or pharmaceutical industry, working in hospital laboratories as clinical chemists or pollution analysts monitoring heavy metal residues in waste water - constantly need to make decisions about which reagent to choose for a particular application. This dictionary fulfils that need by being the most comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date compilation of reagents available. This book should be of interest to analytical chemists in academic and industrial establishments, forensic scientists, chromatographers, biochemists, standards institutions, companies selling laboratory chemicals, and water authorities.