EXHIBIT 12

                            ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY
                              AND SUBSIDIARIES


              COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                            (millions of dollars)


                        THREE MONTHS
                            ENDED             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          MARCH 31,    --------------------------------------
                            1997        1996    1995    1994    1993    1992
                        ------------   ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
                                                     
Earnings before income
  taxes                   $  155       $  530  $  441  $  407  $  194  $  261
Fixed charges                 18           75      84      82      79      83
Capitalized interest
  adjustment                  --           (1)     (5)     (2)     (7)     (3)
Undistributed earnings
  adjustment                  (3)          12      (3)     (2)      6       2
                        ------------   ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Earnings              $  170       $  616  $  517  $  485  $  272  $  343
                        ------------   ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges              9.4          8.2     6.2     5.9     3.4     4.1
                        ------------   ------  ------  ------  ------  ------


Note: Earnings consist of earnings before income taxes and fixed charges
      after eliminating undistributed earnings (losses) of affiliates and
      capitalized interest net of amortization of previously capitalized
      interest.  Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including
      capitalized interest, and amortization of debt discount and expense on
      all indebtedness, plus one-third of rent expense deemed to represent an
      interest factor.