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:

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. How Hair Removers Get Rid of Unwanted Fuzz

    Hair removal creams, waxing and sugaring, and lasers are all viable options for hair removal. Knowing how each method works might help you decide which one to choose.

    Issue Date | April 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Power of a Prize

    A profile on Marcius Extavour who hopes to push energy and climate technology to new levels so that everyone around the world can use lights, refrigeration, cooling, and heating in their homes.

    Issue Date | April 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Water Wars

    Fizzy, plain, flavored, or alkaline—drinking water comes in many varieties. Understand the chemistry behind their differences.

    Issue Date | April 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. What's the Difference Between Art and Science?

    While the outcomes of science and art are quite different, the processes involved have undeniable similarities.

    Issue Date | April 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. A Leap into the Philosophy of Chemistry

    An interview with Vanessa Seifert who explores whether and how chemistry can help explain the relationship between physics and other sciences.

    Issue Date | February 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Could Vaccines be Pain Free?

    For decades, the hypodermic needle has been the delivery method of choice for inoculations. Is a less scary option finally on the horizon?

    Issue Date | February 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Shining a Light on Candles

    Discover the science of candles from the anatomy of a candle flame to how flames burn in space.

    Issue Date | February 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Elements of Truth

    What does philosophy have to do with science?

    Issue Date | February 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Photoelectric Effect

    Have you ever wondered how the doors at the grocery store open all by themselves, or how automatic water faucets turn on when you put your hands under them? Some of these gadgets operate according to the same principle, one first explained in detail by none other than Albert Einstein in 1905.

    Issue Date | February 2022

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. What's in Marshmallows?

    Whether you make them yourself or buy a bag of them, these puffy little sweets have magic to them because of the chemistry of the ingredients and how they interact.

    Issue Date | February 2022

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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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