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.

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  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Save It For Later

    Batteries are everywhere from the cell phone in your pocket to the solar cells used to power homes. Batteries keep things running, but they come with challenges and costs.

    Issue Date | April 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Sustainability: What Does It Really Mean?

    Sustainability: What role can chemists and engineers play in balancing the needs and wants of society with the finite resources of the Earth?

    Issue Date | April 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Earth's Chemical Fingerprint

    Where did the Earth’s water come from? Scientists use isotope ratios and meteorites to find the answer.

    Issue Date | April 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. 3D Printed Foods

    What if food, tuned to the nutritional needs of an individual, could be printed on demand? From cheesecakes to plant-based steaks, engineers are using 3D-printing technology to innovate in the kitchen.

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Caffeine: the Good, the Bad, and the Why

    Caffeine can pick you up, but it can also be habit-forming, and missing your daily cup of coffee can leave you feeling especially tired. Caffeine’s effects, both the ones we want and those we don’t, arise from its interactions with our normal brain chemistry.

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Cooking Chemistry: What's in the Pot?

    The material your pots and pans are made from can elevate your cooking. Heat transfer, cooking method, and polymer coatings all play a role in the taste and texture of your foods.

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. How to Read Science News and Spot Misinformation

    With science-related news—including un-founded rumors—being released at a blistering pace on social media, we are constantly weighing the credibility of information. But how do we reliably do that?

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Keeping People and the Environment Safe

    Safety for both workers and the environment are a big part of Trevor Cornish’s job as an environmental health and safety engineer.

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Mad Scientists and Misinformation

    Perception is everything. When chemistry is exaggerated or inaccurately portrayed in movies, TV, and social media, the consequences are not always benign.

    Issue Date | February 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Quick Read: Can Lightning Be Stolen?

    Issue Date | February 2024

Generate a Student Pass

Teacher Members, use a Student Pass to give your students 7 days of access to our locked member-only videos, animations, and archived articles of ChemMatters Magazine.

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About ChemMatters Magazine

Published four times a year since February 1983, ChemMatters Magazine is an award-winning high school chemistry magazine from the American Chemical Society that helps students demystify chemistry and make connections to the world around them. AACT members receive a complimentary subscription.

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Discover how an AACT membership enhances your experience in the chemistry classroom. Join now to access a wealth of resources, professional development, and other member benefits. Members have access to the archive and can generate a Student Pass.

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