<PAGE>   1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 1998

                                                                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. Employee Stock Option Awards
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

      James H. Agger, Senior 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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Proposed                 Proposed
                                                           Maximum                  Maximum
 Title Of Securities             Amount To Be              Offering                Aggregate                 Amount Of
  To Be Registered                Registered              Price Per              Offering Price             Registration
                                                            Share                                              Fee(1)
<S>                           <C>                         <C>                 <C>                        <C>       
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock par
value $1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options Granted                 2,497,200                   $26.03              $65,002,116                $19,175.62
October 2, 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Options Granted                 3,093,400                   $41.31              $127,788,354               $37,697.56
October 1, 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                           5,590,600                                       $192,790,470               $56,873.18
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

---------------------------
(1) The registration fee with respect to these shares has been computed in
    accordance with paragraph (h) of Rule 457 based upon the stated exercise
    price of the Options.
<PAGE>   2
                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.           PLAN INFORMATION. (2)

ITEM 2.           REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL
                  INFORMATION. (2)

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The documents listed in clauses (a), (b) and (c) below are
incorporated herein by this reference thereto, and all documents subsequently
filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by this reference in this registration statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

         (a) The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 1997.

         (b) All other reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the
registrant document referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The description of the Common Stock contained in the registration
statement filed by the registrant to register such securities under Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.

         Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent
that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any other
contemporaneously or subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
registration statement.

-----------------------------------------
(2)The information called for by Part I of Form S-8 is currently included in
   the registrant's Prospectus for the Employee Stock Option Awards to be
   delivered to eligible employees. Pursuant to the Note to Part I of Form S-8,
   this information is not being filed with or included in this Form S-8.


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Section 145 of the Delaware Corporation Law gives corporations
the power to indemnify officers and directors under certain circumstances.

                  Article Ninth of the registrant's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, contains provisions which provide for indemnification
of certain persons (including officers and directors). The Restated Certificate
of Incorporation is filed as an exhibit to the registrant's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1987.

                  The registrant maintains insurance that generally insures the
officers and directors of the registrant and its subsidiaries (as defined in
said policy) against liabilities incurred in such capacities, and insures the
registrant with respect to amounts to which officers and directors become
entitled as indemnification payments from the registrant, subject to certain
specified exclusions and deductible and maximum amounts. The registrant also
maintains a policy of insurance that insures, among others, certain officers and
directors of the registrant and certain of its subsidiaries against liabilities
incurred for Breach of Fiduciary Duty (as defined in said policy) with respect
to their performance of their duties and responsibilities in connection with
certain pension and retirement plans of the registrant and certain of its
subsidiaries, subject to certain specified exclusions and deductible and maximum
amounts.

ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS.

                  An Exhibit Index, containing a list of all exhibits filed with
this registration statement, is included on page 9.

ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)  Rule 415 offering.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i)      To include any prospectus required by 
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

                           (iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the registration
statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and 1(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) Filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act Documents by
Reference.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (h)  Filing of Registration Statement on Form S-8.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant 

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
pursuant to the provisions described under Item 6 above, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liability (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                   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, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this
1st day of July, 1998.

                                       AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.         
                                       (Registrant)
                                       
                                       
                                       By: /s/ James H. Agger
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          James H. Agger*
                                          Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary


--------
*   James H. Agger, Senior 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 6 and
    7 hereof, pursuant to a power of attorney duly executed by such persons
    which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission herewith.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
         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.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Signature                                         Title                          Date
                   ---------                                         -----                          ----
<S>                                              <C>                                            <C>
                                                 Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                                 Executive Officer (Principal Executive
           *                                     Officer)                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Harold A. Wagner

                                                 Vice President - Finance and Treasurer
   /s/ Leo J. Daley                              (Principal Financial Officer)                  July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Leo J. Daley
                                                 Vice President and
                                                 Corporate Controller
   /s/ Paul E. Huck                              (Principal Accounting Officer)                 July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Paul E. Huck


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Tom H. Barrett


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         L. Paul Bremer III


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Robert Cizik


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Ruth M. Davis


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Edward E. Hagenlocker


           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
-------------------
         James F. Hardymon
</TABLE>




                                       6
<PAGE>   7
       Signature                                  Title             Date


           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
   Joseph J. Kaminski



           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
  Terry R. Lautenbach


            *                                    Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
   Ruud F. M. Lubbers


------------------------                         Director         July 30, 1998
      Takeo Shiina

           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
  Lawrason D. Thomas




                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



      23.      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

      24.      Power of Attorney

      No opinion of counsel is being filed because the Common Stock to be
      distributed in connection with the Plan will consist exclusively of
      previously issued shares that are presently held by the registrant as
      treasury shares or under the registrant's Flexible Employee Benefits Trust
      and will not constitute original issuance shares; further, no opinion is
      being furnished with respect to ERISA compliance because the Plan is not
      subject to the requirements of ERISA.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17172}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC /DE/", "cik": "0000002969", "assigned-sic": "2810", "irs-number": "231274455", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0930"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-60147", "film-number": "98673645"}, "business-address": {"street1": "7201 HAMILTON BLVD", "city": "ALLENTOWN", "state": "PA", "zip": "18195-1501", "phone": "2154814911"}}
1
      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 1998

                                                                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. Employee Stock Option Awards
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

      James H. Agger, Senior 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                  Maximum
 Title Of Securities             Amount To Be              Offering                Aggregate                 Amount Of
  To Be Registered                Registered              Price Per              Offering Price             Registration
                                                            Share                                              Fee(1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock par
value $1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options Granted                 2,497,200                   $26.03              $65,002,116                $19,175.62
October 2, 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Options Granted                 3,093,400                   $41.31              $127,788,354               $37,697.56
October 1, 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                           5,590,600                                       $192,790,470               $56,873.18
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------
(1) The registration fee with respect to these shares has been computed in
    accordance with paragraph (h) of Rule 457 based upon the stated exercise
    price of the Options.
2
                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.           PLAN INFORMATION. (2)

ITEM 2.           REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL
                  INFORMATION. (2)

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The documents listed in clauses (a), (b) and (c) below are
incorporated herein by this reference thereto, and all documents subsequently
filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by this reference in this registration statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

         (a) The registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 1997.

         (b) All other reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the
registrant document referred to in (a) above.

         (c) The description of the Common Stock contained in the registration
statement filed by the registrant to register such securities under Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendment or report filed
for the purpose of updating such description.

         Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent
that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any other
contemporaneously or subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
registration statement.

-----------------------------------------
(2)The information called for by Part I of Form S-8 is currently included in
   the registrant's Prospectus for the Employee Stock Option Awards to be
   delivered to eligible employees. Pursuant to the Note to Part I of Form S-8,
   this information is not being filed with or included in this Form S-8.

                                       2
3
ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Section 145 of the Delaware Corporation Law gives corporations
the power to indemnify officers and directors under certain circumstances.

                  Article Ninth of the registrant's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, contains provisions which provide for indemnification
of certain persons (including officers and directors). The Restated Certificate
of Incorporation is filed as an exhibit to the registrant's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1987.

                  The registrant maintains insurance that generally insures the
officers and directors of the registrant and its subsidiaries (as defined in
said policy) against liabilities incurred in such capacities, and insures the
registrant with respect to amounts to which officers and directors become
entitled as indemnification payments from the registrant, subject to certain
specified exclusions and deductible and maximum amounts. The registrant also
maintains a policy of insurance that insures, among others, certain officers and
directors of the registrant and certain of its subsidiaries against liabilities
incurred for Breach of Fiduciary Duty (as defined in said policy) with respect
to their performance of their duties and responsibilities in connection with
certain pension and retirement plans of the registrant and certain of its
subsidiaries, subject to certain specified exclusions and deductible and maximum
amounts.

ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS.

                  An Exhibit Index, containing a list of all exhibits filed with
this registration statement, is included on page 9.

ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)  Rule 415 offering.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                                       3
4
                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i)      To include any prospectus required by 
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

                           (iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the registration
statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and 1(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) Filings incorporating subsequent Exchange Act Documents by
Reference.

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (h)  Filing of Registration Statement on Form S-8.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant 

                                       4
5
pursuant to the provisions described under Item 6 above, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liability (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                   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, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this
1st day of July, 1998.

                                       AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.         
                                       (Registrant)
                                       
                                       
                                       By: /s/ James H. Agger
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          James H. Agger*
                                          Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                          and Secretary

--------
*   James H. Agger, Senior 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 6 and
    7 hereof, pursuant to a power of attorney duly executed by such persons
    which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission herewith.

                                       5
6
         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)                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Harold A. Wagner

                                                 Vice President - Finance and Treasurer
   /s/ Leo J. Daley                              (Principal Financial Officer)                  July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Leo J. Daley
                                                 Vice President and
                                                 Corporate Controller
   /s/ Paul E. Huck                              (Principal Accounting Officer)                 July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Paul E. Huck

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Tom H. Barrett

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         L. Paul Bremer III

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Robert Cizik

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Ruth M. Davis

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
--------------------------
         Edward E. Hagenlocker

           *                                     Director                                       July 30, 1998
-------------------
         James F. Hardymon
6
7
       Signature                                  Title             Date

           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
   Joseph J. Kaminski

           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
  Terry R. Lautenbach

            *                                    Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
   Ruud F. M. Lubbers

------------------------                         Director         July 30, 1998
      Takeo Shiina

           *                                     Director         July 30, 1998
------------------------
  Lawrason D. Thomas

                                       7
8

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      23.      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

      24.      Power of Attorney

      No opinion of counsel is being filed because the Common Stock to be
      distributed in connection with the Plan will consist exclusively of
      previously issued shares that are presently held by the registrant as
      treasury shares or under the registrant's Flexible Employee Benefits Trust
      and will not constitute original issuance shares; further, no opinion is
      being furnished with respect to ERISA compliance because the Plan is not
      subject to the requirements of ERISA.