Thermodynamics,handmaiden to science and technology

Generally, the only items of reference data with real economic impact are—except in a few instances—the basic values from which the standard enthalpy increment of reactions and the Gibbs energy of formation of the substances involved in the reaction. The energetic requirements of chemical processing mandate exact values here as well as for rather precise Gibbs energies needed for evaluation of equilibrium constants. Even here the contribution may lie less in the intrinsic value of that accuracy than in the implicit reliability and ready availability of the tables. CODATA's endeavors and scientific task groups dealing with fundamental constants, key values for thermodynamics, internationalization and systematization of thermodynamic tables to assist chemical industry are noted.