ChemMatters Archive
ChemMatters is produced by the American Chemical Society in October, December, February, and April. The archive gives you access to all of ChemMatters’ past articles, dating back to February 1983. The most recently released issue is available through a complimentary subscription, if you chose to receive one when you joined AACT.
For recent articles, issues, or available teacher’s guides visit acs.org/ChemMatters.
AACT members can access the archive and generate a Student Pass that gives their students access to the articles. Available Teacher’s Guides can also be found next to the corresponding issue and article in the archive.
Search for Articles
Use the filters in the Filter by: section to search for an archived article by title, keyword, month, and/or year.
Pro Tips:
- Read about the ChemMatters Archives’ updates!
- To view an article’s ChemMatters Issue, click on the Issue Date link.
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The Ingredients in Cosmetics: What Do They Do?When putting on your best face, remember that cosmetics can be a complex formulation of different chemicals. Knowing what these chemicals are, and what they do, can go a long way in making informed decisions about your cosmetic products.
Issue Date | April 2023
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What is the Story With Climate Change?Climate refers to long-term weather and related natural events, including rainfall and storms. Over the billions of years of Earth’s existence, climate has changed significantly.
Issue Date | April 2023
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Electric Vehicles! What's the Chemistry that Makes them Go?There’s a big change coming to our roads. There is a new generation of electric vehicles that are much better for the environment than cars powered by fossil fuels.
Issue Date | February 2023
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Finding Your Path as a Chemical Technical ProfessionalIf being the go-to person for handling chemicals, conducting experiments, and running analyses appeals to you, this article is for you.
Issue Date | February 2023
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The Chemistry of ShavingA sure sign that puberty has struck is the appearance of hair where there was little to none before. Learning to remove unwanted hair requires some sharp science.
Issue Date | February 2023
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What's Chocolate, and How Does its Chemistry Inspire Such Cravings?Chocolate isn’t just a delicious comfort food; it’s also a complex chemical mixture. We can thank the Aztecs and their contemporaries in Mexico and Central America for discovering its delights.
Issue Date | February 2023
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What's in Your Paintbox?From the cave paintings of prehistoric times to the masterpieces of today, creating art with paint seems to be a fundamental urge in humans. The key to paint is the pigment, the substance that gives a paint its color.
Issue Date | February 2023
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Leaves of Three, Let it Be: The Itchy Chemistry of Poison IvyLearn about the chemistry of itching, and what to do about a poison ivy rash.
Issue Date | December 2022
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Quick Read: Chewing GumWhen you put a piece of gum in your mouth and start to chew, you probably don’t think much about the stuff you are chewing. But what is gum anyway?
Issue Date | December 2022
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Sugar: 'White Gold' Transforming AmericaWhen processed sugar became available, it was very expensive and out of reach for most people. But over time, as the sweetener became less expensive to produce, Americans began consuming more and more sugar.
Issue Date | December 2022