About National Chemistry Week
National Chemistry Week (NCW) is a community-based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual program unites ACS local sections, student communities, ACs divisions, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life. NCW occurs annually during the third week of October, typically the same week as Mole Day.
In 1986, George Pimentel, then ACS president, had an idea to better educate the public about the crucial role of chemistry in everyday life. ACS organized its first official National Chemistry Day on Nov. 6, 1987. By 1989, the ACS Board had approved National Chemistry Day, and it became an annual celebration, held every year in late October. In 1993, it was renamed National Chemistry Week.
The mission of NCW 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.
NCW is administered by the ACS Office of Science Outreach which is part of the Education Division. The Committee on Community Activities (CCA) serves as the advisory group for outreach programs, and selects and develops the NCW themes and materials.
Themes
NCW 2024
October 20-26, 2024
Topic: Photography and Imaging
Theme: Picture Perfect Chemistry
En Español: Fotografía Perfecta de la Química
NCW 2025
October 19-25, 2025
Topic: Spices
Theme: The Hidden Life of Spices
En Español: La Vida Oculta de los Condimentos
Past Themes
Year | Dates | Topic | Theme Name |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | October 15-21 | Health & Medicine | The Healing Power of Chemistry |
2022 | October 16-22 | Fibers | Fabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabrics |
2021 | October 17-23 | Reaction Rates | Fast or Slow ... Chemistry Makes It Go! |
2020 | October 18-24 | Glues and Adhesives | Sticking with Chemistry |
2019 | October 20-26 | Metal | Marvelous Metals |
2018 | October 21-27 | Outerspace | Chemistry is Out of This World |
2017 | October 22-28 | Geochemistry | Chemistry Rocks! |
2016 | October 16-22 | Forensics | Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry |
2015 | October 18-24 | Color | Chemistry Colors Our World |
2014 | October 19-25 | Candy | The Sweet Side of Chemistry: Candy |
2013 | October 20-26 | Energy | Energy: Now and Forever! |
2012 | October 21-27 | Nanotechnology | Nanotechnology: The Smallest BIG Idea in Science! |
2011 | October 16-22 | Chemistry and Health | Chemistry: Our Health, Our Future! |
2010 | October 17-23 | Movie Special Effects | Behind the Scenes with Chemistry! |
2009 | October 18-24 | Periodic Table | Chemistry—It’s Elemental! |
2008 | October 19-25 | Sports Chemistry | Having a Ball with Chemistry |
2007 | October 21-27 | Careers in Chemistry | The Many Faces of Chemistry |
2006 | October 22-28 | Materials Chemistry, Home Safety | Your Home—It’s All Built on Chemistry |
2005 | October 16-22 | Chemistry in Toys | The Joy of Toys |
2004 | October 17-23 | Food and Body Chemistry | Health and Wellness |
2003 | October 19-25 | Atmospheric Chemistry and Chemical Reactions | Earth’s Atmosphere and Beyond! |
2002 | October 20-26 | Soaps and Detergents | Chemistry Keeps Us Clean! |
2001 | November 4-10 | Chemistry and Art | Celebrating Chemistry and Art |
2000 | November 5-11 | Kitchen Chemistry | Get Cooking With Chemistry |
1999 | November 7-3 | Polymer Chemistry | A Global Salute To Polymers |
1998 | November 1-7 | Pigments and Dyes | World of Color |
1997 | November 2-8 | Chemistry Is Everywhere | Planet Chemistry |
Find Your
Local NCW Coordinator