Chemical Science
The flagship journal of the RSC. Home to exceptional research and thought-provoking ideas.
Editor-in-Chief: Andrew Cooper
Publishing model: Gold open access
Your unique discoveries deserve to be celebrated. We are a home to world-leading interdisciplinary research from every aspect of the chemical sciences. We offer an open and trusted venue for your articles to flourish, and we are not afraid of publishing research that goes beyond the ordinary.
Too bold? Too progressive? No such thing
Scope
Our journal has a wide-ranging scope which covers the full breadth of the chemical sciences. The research we publish contains the sorts of novel ideas, challenging questions and progressive thinking that bring undiscovered breakthroughs within reach.
Your paper could focus on a single area, or cross many. It could be beyond the accepted bounds of the chemical sciences. It might address an immediate challenge, contribute to a future breakthrough or be wholly conceptual.
We're a team from every field of the chemical sciences, and know from experience that breakthroughs that drive the solutions to global challenges can come from anywhere, at any time. You could even start an entirely new area of research.
Chemical Science has a broad remit. We want bold papers that really challenge the status quo. So if you think something’s particularly controversial, new or exciting – well, that’s exactly the kind of paper we want.
Prof Andrew Cooper, Editor-in-chief
Journal Impact Factor
8.1 (2025)
First decision time (all)
5 days
First decision time (peer reviewed)
33 days
Indexing
eISSN: 2041-6539
Indexed in: Scopus, Web of Science SCIE, PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
Publish in this journal
We encourage authors to review the information below and read our author guidelines before submitting their manuscript.
Ready to go? Submit now
This journal charges an APC of £2,850. This is waived for submissions before 1 July 2026.
You may be able to publish open access in this journal, with no APC to pay, if your institution has an open access agreement with us. You can use our Journal Finder to find out if your institution has an agreement and which journals are included.
Read more about payments and funding for information on APCs, discounts, waivers, and open access agreements.
Get your manuscript submission ready with our new submission checker tool. You can instantly check if your manuscript meets your chosen journal's guidelines and requirements, check formatting and receive helpful hints to get you ready to submit.
Chemical Science publishes:
- Edge articles
- Reviews
- Perspectives
- Comments
Read the author guidelines for more information on article types and how to prepare your article for submission.
Find guidance on our publishing process, editorial policies and the responsibilities of authors and reviewers throughout the publication process.
- Our publishing process and editorial policies, including our initial assessment of submissions, our journal transfer service and the publication of accepted manuscripts.
- Our guidance for authors on their responsibilities and the code of conduct they should follow when submitting to our journals.
- Our guidance for reviewers on the procedure and requirements to assess manuscripts submitted to our journals.

Author guidelines
Our author guidelines explain how to prepare and submit your article and provide useful information on the review and publication process including transfers, revisions and any article processing charges (APCs) that may apply.
Meet the team
Meet the people supporting this journal, including its leadership, editors, advisors, and the editorial office.

Contact the editorial office
We're here to help. Contact the editorial office if you have any questions about publishing your paper with us.
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Calls for papers
Any open calls for papers for this journal are shown below. All submissions to our open calls will undergo an initial assessment by the journal editors and subsequent peer review as per the usual policies of RSC journals.
Prizes and recognition
Chemical Science Lectureship
Recognising leading researchers at all career stages who have made exceptional discoveries and innovations in their field within the last five years.
Prize
Chemical Science outstanding reviewers
Recognising outstanding peer reviewers.
More from the RSC
Join us
Become a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Grants, bursaries and other funding options from the RSC
We offer grants to support travel, events, outreach and research, personal support and guidance
Research and innovation
The likely future of where chemistry’s greatest contributions will be – as well as the regulatory and funding environments needed to achieve them.