About National Chemistry Week

National Chemistry Week

National Chemistry Week is a community based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual event unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.

Courtesy of the Corning Local Section

National Chemistry Week Mission

The mission of National Chemistry Week is to reach the public, particularly elementary and secondary school children, with positive messages about chemistry to:

Make a positive change in the public's impression of chemistry;
Promote a mechanism for effectively mobilizing ACS local sections; and
Motivate the ACS membership through local section activities.

National Chemistry Week Contacts

National Chemistry Week is administered by the ACS Office of Community Activities which is part of the Membership Division. The Committee on Community Activities serves as the advisory group for ACS Community Programs.

Future Themes

National Chemistry Week occurs annually the fourth week of October.

Themes are selected by members of the ACS Committee on Community Activities.

October 18 – 24, 2009: Theme: “Chemistry—It’s Elemental!”
(Celebrating the Periodic Table of Elements)
October 17 – 23, 2010: Theme: “Behind the Scenes with Chemistry”
(Showcases the difference between what we see in television, movies, and literature and the real science behind the “magic” and mystery of special effects, hair/make-up, and forensics.)