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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 1999

                                                      Registration No.


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                        AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                    Delaware
         (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

                                   23-1274455
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

           7201 Hamilton Boulevard, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18195-1501
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Directors
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

         W. Douglas Brown, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
           Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 7201 Hamilton Boulevard,
                            Allentown, PA 18195-1501
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                  610-481-4911
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

========================================================================================================= Proposed Proposed maximum Title of securities Amount to be maximum offering aggregate offering Amount of to be registered registered price per share price registration fee(1) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, par value $1 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 20,000 $39.37 $787,400.00 $218.90 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 20,000 $34.53 $690,000.00 $191.99 ========================================================================================================= 40,000 $1,478,000.00 $410.89 =========================================================================================================
(1) The registration fee with respect to these shares has been computed in accordance with paragraph (l) of Rule 457 based upon the stated exercise price of the Options. 2 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (the "Company"), by the filing of this Registration Statement, hereby registers additional shares of common stock of the Company, for distribution pursuant to the Stock Option Plan for Directors (the "Plan"). These are securities of the same class as the securities registered on Forms S-8, Registration Statement No. 333-18955 for distribution pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, the contents of Registration Statement No. 333-18955 is incorporated herein by reference. EXHIBITS 23. Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP. 24. Power of Attorney. SIGNATURES The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Allentown, State of Pennsylvania, on this 1st day of March, 1999. AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. (Registrant) By: /s/ W. Douglas Brown --------------------------------- W. Douglas Brown* Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary - -------------- * W. Douglas Brown, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, by signing his name hereto, signs this registration statement on behalf of the registrant and, for each of the persons indicated by asterisk on pages 3 and 4 hereof, pursuant to a power of attorney duly executed by such persons which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission herewith. 2 3 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer * (Principal Executive Officer) March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Harold A. Wagner Vice President - Finance /s/ Leo J. Daley (Principal Financial Officer) March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Leo J. Daley Vice President and Corporate Controller /s/ Paul E. Huck (Principal Accounting Officer) March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Paul E. Huck * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Tom H. Barrett * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- L. Paul Bremer III * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Robert Cizik * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Ursula F. Fairbairn * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Edward E. Hagenlocker * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- James F. Hardymon
3 4
Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- John P. Jones III * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Joseph J. Kaminski * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Terry R. Lautenbach * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Ruud F. M. Lubbers * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Takeo Shiina * Director March 1, 1999 - ----------------------------- Lawrason D. Thomas
4 5 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 1999 Registration No. ____________ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 EXHIBITS TO FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS 5 6 EXHIBIT INDEX 23. Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP 24. Power of Attorney 6
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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.:

         As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of our reports dated
30 October 1998, included, and incorporated by reference, in Air Products and
Chemicals, Inc.'s, Form 10-K for the year ended 30 September 1998 and to all
references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.




                                                             ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
23 February 1999


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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
                                                                     STOCK PLANS

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints HAROLD A. WAGNER or LEO J. DALEY or JAMES
H. AGGER or W. DOUG BROWN, acting severally, his/her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him/her and in his/her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign Form S-3 and S-8 Registration Statements and amendments thereto pertaining
to interests in and/or Common Stock offered, issued, sold, or resold under 

  -   the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan and/or the
      Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (formerly
      the 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan);

  -   the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Retirement Savings and Stock
      Ownership Plan and/or the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Supplementary
      Savings Plan;

  -   the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Stock Incentive Program;

  -   the Air Products Employee Stock Option Award granted 2 October 1995 and/or
      the Air Products Employee Stock Option Award granted 1 October 1997;

  -   the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for
      Directors and/or the Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Stock Option Plan
      for Directors;

  -   the Air Products PLC U.K. Savings-Related Share Option Scheme and/or the
      Air Products Group Limited U.K. Savings-Related Share Option Scheme;

  -   the Direct Investment Program for Shareholders of Air Products and
      Chemicals, Inc.; and/or

  -   any other plan, program, or award (together with all of the foregoing, the
      "Plans") of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. or its subsidiaries existing
      from time to time which involves Common Stock,

which Registration Statements may be required in connection with (i) the
registration of interests in and/or Common Stock for issuance under any of such
Plans as may be necessary from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
such Plans, (ii) amendments to said Plans heretofore or hereafter approved or
established by the Board or the appropriate committee of the Board, by Air
Products PLC, by Air Products Group Limited, or by the Plan Administrator, or
(iii) any fundamental change in the information contained in such Registration
Statements, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he/she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said 


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attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Power
of Attorney has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.


SIGNATURE TITLE DATE /s/Harold A. Wagner Director, Chairman of the Board, November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Chief Executive Officer and Harold A. Wagner Employee Benefit Plans Committee Member (Principal Executive Officer) /s/Tom H. Barrett Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Tom H. Barrett /s/L. Paul Bremer III Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- L. Paul Bremer III /s/Robert Cizik Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Robert Cizik /s/Ruth M. Davis Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Ruth M. Davis /s/Ursula F. Fairbairn Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Ursula F. Fairbairn /s/Edward E. Hagenlocker Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Edward E. Hagenlocker /s/James F. Hardymon Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- James F. Hardymon
9 3 /s/John P. Jones III Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- John P. Jones III /s/Joseph J. Kaminski Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Joseph J. Kaminski /s/Terry R. Lautenbach Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Terry R. Lautenbach /s/Ruud F. M. Lubbers Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Ruud F. M. Lubbers /s/Takeo Shiina Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Takeo Shiina /s/Lawrason D. Thomas Director November 19, 1998 - ----------------------------- Lawrason D. Thomas
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