Handbook

Since the discovery of X-ray diffraction in 1913 over 100 000 different inorganic substances (also called compounds or phases) have been structurally characterized. The aim of this reference work is to provide the researcher with a comprehensive compilation of all up to now crystallographically identified inorganic substances in only one volume. All data have been processed and critically evaluated by the "Pauling File" editorial team using a unique software package. Each substance is represented in a single row containing the following information:
- Alphabetically sorted chemical elements
- Standardized chemical formula
- Prototype (structure type): type-defining compound, Pearson symbol, space group number
- Hermann-Mauguin symbol for the space group
- Unit cell dimensions
- Color
- Density calculated from the chemical formula and unit cell dimensions
- Code indicating the level of structural studies (atom coordinates refined; no atom coordinates refined, but prototype assigned; only cell parameters determined)
- Reference number

• Affordable overview of 100 years of literature in one volume
• Over 100 000 distinct inorganic substances at one glance
• Data from over 72 000 scientific articles published in more than 1000 different journals
• Yearly updates containing old and recent data (each new edition extended by data on 10 000 inorganic substances representing 5000 distinct substances contained in some 7000 scientific publications)
• No comparable product available on the market
  

Pierre Villars, Material Phases Data System, Vitznau, Switzerland; Karin Cenzual, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland