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                                                                      Exhibit 5
 



                                              January 19, 1995
       


Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
7201 Hamilton Boulevard
Allentown, PA 1819501501

     RE:  Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.--Registration Statement on
          Form S-3 for $400,000,000 Principal Amount of Medium-Term Notes,
          Series D

Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
     I am an Assistant General Counsel of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have acted in such capacity in
connection with the proposed issuance and sale of the Company of up to
$400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its debt securities (the
"Securities") as described in the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed by
the Company pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 on January 19, 1995 (the
"Registration Statement").  The Securities are to be issued under an Indenture
dated as of January 10, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and First
Fidelity Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

     I or members of the Company's legal staff have examined original or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such
documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other
instruments as were deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of enabling
me to render this opinion.

     Based upon the foregoing, in my capacity as an Assistant General Counsel
of the Company, I am of the opinion that when the Registration Statement has
become effective, and the Securities have been duly executed by the Company,
duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered by the Company against payment
therefor in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Securities will be
legally issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
in accordance with their terms (except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration and the availability
of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
applicability).

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Robert F. Gerkens
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Robert F. Gerkens
                                        Assistant General Counsel