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UNITED STATES 12/31/96
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )*
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
(NAME OF ISSUER)
COMMON
(TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES)
009158106
(CUSIP NUMBER)
CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX IF A FEE IS BEING PAID WITH THIS
STATEMENT.____(A FEE IS NOT REQUIRED ONLY IF THE FILING PERSON: (1)
HAS A PREVIOUS STATEMENT ON FILE REPORTING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF
MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF THE CLASS OF SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN ITEM
1; AND (2) HAS FILED NO AMENDMENT SUBSEQUENT THERETO REPORTING
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF SUCH CLASS.) (SEE
RULE 13D-7).
*THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL BE FILLED OUT FOR A
REPORTING PERSON'S INITIAL FILING ON THIS FORM WITH RESPECT TO THE
SUBJECT CLASS OF SECURITIES, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT
CONTAINING INFORMATION WHICH WOULD ALTER THE DISCLOSURES PROVIDED
IN A PRIOR COVER PAGE.
THE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL
NOT BE DEEMED TO BE "FILED" FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 18 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ("ACT") OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE
LIABILITIES OF THAT SECTION OF THE ACT BUT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL
OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ACT (HOWEVER, SEE THE NOTES).
CUSIP NO. 009158106 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE 04-1867445
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND STOCK
OWNERSHIP PLAN
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
0 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
5,531,409 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,531,409 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,531,409 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
4.6 %
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK
CUSIP NO. 009158106 13G PAGE 2A OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE 04-1867445
OR DISCRETIONARY ADVISOR VARIOUS COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND OTHER INDEX ACCOUNTS AIR PRODUCTS
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
1,013,016 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
0 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,184,916 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,184,916 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
1.0%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK
CUSIP NO. 009158106 13G PAGE 2B OF 5 PAGES
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE/CO-TRUSTEE 04-1867445
VARIOUS TRUST ACCOUNTS AIR PRODUCTS
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*
NOT APPLICABLE A __
B __
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
259,122 SHARES
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
73,916 SHARES
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
216,817 SHARES
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
116,221 SHARES
9. AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
333,038 SHARES
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES*
NOT APPLICABLE
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
.3%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
BK
SCHEDULE 13G PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 1.
(A) NAME OF ISSUER
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
(B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
7201 HAMILTON BLVD.
ALLENTOWN PA 18195-1501
ITEM 2.
(A) NAME OF PERSON FILING
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE
(B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE,
RESIDENCE
225 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON, MA 02110
(C) CITIZENSHIP
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
(D) TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES
COMMON
(E) CUSIP NUMBER
009158106
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B), OR
13D-2(B), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
(B) _X_ BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(A)(6) OF THE ACT
PAGE 4 of 5 PAGES
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
(A) AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
7,049,363 SHARES
(B) PERCENT OF CLASS
5.9%
(C) NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
(I) SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
1,272,138 SHARES
(II) SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
5,605,325 SHARES
(III) SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
1,401,733 SHARES
(IV) SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
5,647,630 SHARES
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
PERSON.
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
HOLDING COMPANY
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
NOT APPLICABLE
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
NOT APPLICABLE
PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION SHALL BE INCLUDED IF THE
STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B):
BY SIGNING BELOW I CERTIFY THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE WERE
ACQUIRED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND DO NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF CHANGING OR
INFLUENCING THE CONTROL OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND WERE
NOT ACQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH OR AS A PARTICIPANT IN ANY
TRANSACTION HAVING SUCH PURPOSES OR EFFECT.
THIS REPORT IS NOT AN ADMISSION THAT STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY SECURITIES COVERED BY
THIS REPORT, AND STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SHARES REPORTED HEREIN
PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-4.
SIGNATURE
AFTER REASONABLE INQUIRY AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND
BELIEF, I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS STATEMENT
IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND CORRECT.
10 FEBRUARY 1997
STATE STREET BOSTON CORPORATION
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
TRUSTEE
/s/ JANET DENNEEN
SENIOR COMPLIANCE OFFICER