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. Exploring the World Using Antarctic Ice

    Dr. Nelia Dunbar uses geochemistry to study volcanic rock and ash.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Fire & Ice

    How do scientists know what Earth was like before humans? Ice cores harvested from the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica, tell the story of Earth’s climate, ancient volcanic eruptions and giant solar flares.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Freshwater Threat: Salt

    Fresh water accounts for about 3% of Earth’s water. Upstream droughts pull salty water up riverbeds, turning streams brackish and fouling wells used for drinking water. Widespread desalination, chemically separating the dissolve salts and water, may be needed.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. How to Melt an Iceberg

    Suppose you were to place an ice cube in a cup of salt water and another in a cup of tap water. Which would melt first? Surely, ice melts faster in salt water, right? After all, we don’t sprinkle salt on icy sidewalks for the fun of it. If you’re the curious type, you can try this experiment at home. Be prepared, though, for a surprise: Ice always melts faster in fresh water!

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Ötzi the Iceman Reveals 5,300-Year-Old Secrets

    A 5,300-year-old iceman was preserved in a glacier. Scientists have used chemistry and DNA analysis to recreate his last moments.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Colors of Climate Change

    The colors of Earth, as observed from space, tell the complex story of climate change. The pink, green, white, orange and brown come from microorganisms like bacteria and coccoliths as well as ions running in rivers from glacial meltwater.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Frozen Past

    How do scientists know what the carbon dioxide level was a millennia ago? And how do they know what Earth’s temperature was before thermometers and written records? Water and carbon dioxide trapped deeply within glacial ice cores tell the story.

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Water: The Invisible Resource

    Fresh water resources are under threat from global climate change to increasing salt levels. How can chemists protect our most valuable, yet invisible, resource?

    Issue Date | April 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Beyond Glass: Making Wood Transparent

    A cracked phone screen can ruin your day. Could a wooden screen solve the problem? Making wood transparent means removing the colored compounds in wood called lignins and then filling in the air pockets with polymers.

    Issue Date | February 2025

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Bringing Back the Sense of Smell

    Imagine not being able to smell your favorite flower or your dinner cooking. The sense of smell is often unappreciated until it's gone. Scientists are working to find ways to bring it back using chemistry and electronics.

    Issue Date | February 2025

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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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