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. Plastic or Metal?

    Looking for the most environmentally friendly products? Should you choose metal or plastic? The answer is complicated. Recycling materials, whether plastic or metal, suffers from similar issues: diversity and availability. Perhaps the answer lies beyond chemistry.

    Issue Date | December 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Quick Read: Using Computational Chemistry to Build Proteins

    On October 9, 2024, the recipients of the Nobel Prize in chemistry were announced. The award went to three computational chemists who solved one of the biggest challenges in biochemistry—protein structural prediction—and they used computers to do it.

    Issue Date | December 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Skin Emissions

    Wearable devices such as smartwatches make it easy to measure our heart rate, body temperature, or sleep statistics. These are physical statistics, however, that provide only limited information about our health.

    Issue Date | December 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. The Role of Journalism in the Scientific Method

    We usually think of journalists as bringing us news about politics and world events, but science journalism plays an underappreciated role in the scientific process.

    Issue Date | December 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. A Look Inside

    Medical doctors use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or ligament tears in your knee. How do these giant magnets work?

    Issue Date | October 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Changing the World Through Photography

    George Masa, a Japanese immigrant and photographer, used black-and-white prints to help create the Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail.

    Issue Date | October 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Cyanotypes: Chemistry in Blue

    A mixture of iron complexes, when exposed to light, produces the historically important pigment Prussian blue.

    Issue Date | October 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Film or Digital? Which Type of Photography is Better for the Planet?

    There are surprising environmental downsides of both film and digital photography. See why choosing the best option isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

    Issue Date | October 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Light It Up!

    From X-rays to new compounds made with lanthanide elements, chemistry helps doctors see inside the body.

    Issue Date | October 2024

  • Access is an AACT member benefit. Quick Read: Digital Cameras—How do they work?

    Find out more about the chemistry of digital cameras, including those in smartphones.

    Issue Date | October 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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