16 min

Updated: October 16th, 2024

445 Interesting Chemistry Topics & Writing Tips

Chemistry studies matter and what it’s made of. It tells us how substances change and what properties they have. Chemistry seeks to answer questions such as: What is the Universe made of? How do elements react with each other?

Read our article to dive deeper into this intricate subject. What is more, we’ve prepared a list of 300 exciting chemistry-related topics. You can choose between organic, nuclear chemistry, biochemistry, and other branches. Our interesting topics in chemistry will make your studies more enjoyable!

Don’t forget that writing is our element. Is your assignment’s deadline closing in? Our custom writing service will take the pressure off you!

🔝 Top 10 Interesting Chemistry Topics

Biochemistry in nursing
Crystalloids vs. colloids
The purpose of dilutions
Principles of electrochemistry
Why is stoichiometry so difficult?

Are there alternative periodic tables?
The polarity of bonds classification
How is nuclear chemistry used?
The importance of Lewis electron dot structure
Endothermic reactions vs. exothermic reactions

✅ Main Branches of Chemistry

Chemistry is a broad subject that uses various methods of study. Because of this, scientists divide it into five main branches. These are organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry. Let’s investigate them:

Organic chemistry examines life. It seeks to understand the molecular structure and behavior of living beings.
Inorganic chemistry focuses on materials rather than living beings. Chemists of this field aim to advance technology.

Physical chemists examine the atomic level of matter. This branch uses physics to study the processes in chemical systems.
Analytical chemists investigate what matter consists of. They look for new analyzing procedures and ways to enhance existing ones.
Biochemistry studies the fundamental biological systems. It improves our understanding of essential medical issues.

Now that we’ve sorted out chemistry basics, we can examine how to write about it. Whether you’re in high school or already in college, the following guide will help you compose an excellent chemistry paper!

✍️ Tips on How to Write a Chemistry Paper

Each subject has its own rules when it comes to writing papers. In chemistry, the organization is the key. That’s why the first step is to have your lab notes in order. Keep your notebook neat and tidy, and you will see that writing becomes much more manageable.

On top of that, it’s good to have an idea of what an excellent paper should be like. There are three major points you should keep in mind: objectives, style, and structure.

Objectives. Your goal is to identify and convey valuable information. If you want to share it with others, it should be presented as credible scientific work.
Structure. The essay’s basic structure consists of four parts:
- Introduction. Say what your paper will be about.
- Methods. Present the methods and materials you use.
- Results. Describe what you observed during the experiment.
- Discussion. Analyze the results and summarize the relevance of your study.
Style. Grammatically correct writing is a must. Your style should be formal, concise, and clear. Use the right tense: write your methods and results in the past. For general truths, you can switch to the present.

Finally, don’t forget that for any type of writing, the right topic is crucial. For inspiration, check out our excellent chemistry paper topics!

⭐ Top 10 Chemistry Essay Topics

The history of neurochemistry
Astrochemistry vs. astrophysics
Is radiochemistry a dying field?
Pros and cons of being a biochemist
New concepts of chemical engineering
What makes quantum chemistry difficult?
The importance of agricultural chemistry
The impact of WW2 on computational chemistry

Ernest Rutherford’s contribution to nuclear chemistry
Computer chemistry vs. computational chemistry

🔬 General Chemistry Topics to Write About

Chemistry surrounds us in our everyday life. Have you ever seen moldy bread or boiling water? That’s chemistry in action. Have a look at these 30 easy topics for an introduction into chemistry:

What happens to your body when it lacks vitamins?
How does acid rain form?
Understanding pheromones: how do they affect humans?
Explain what atoms are made of.
Ionic and covalent compounds: a comparison.
How do you solve stoichiometry problems?
Give an overview of the states of matter.
A delicate balance: how do chemicals in our brains create moods?
Describe the noble gas configuration.
Marie Curie and her extraordinary legacy.
An introduction into acids and bases.
Write about hydrologic cycles.
What happens when a substance oxidizes?
Explain substitution reactions.
Compare the Bohr model with the plum-pudding and the Saturnian models.
How does a Geiger counter work?
Describe the significance of Rutherford’s gold foil experiment.
How Michael Faraday forever changed the scientific landscape.
What does Prout’s hypothesis state?
The history of european alchemy.
What are the periodic trends?
Explain how to analyze amino acids using protein hydrolysis.
What do catalysts do?
Everything about lab safety.
The radium craze of the early 20th century.
How does substance abuse impact your body?
Why is it essential to study chemistry in high school?
Reaction rates: how do we define them?
Before chemistry: ancient philosophy of things changing.
Examine how radioactive decay occurs.

🥼 Chemistry Projects Topics for Science Fair

Experiments are, without a doubt, the most fun part of chemistry. It’s exciting to watch colorful substances fizzle and bubble. If you need ideas for your next project, look no further. Just make sure to follow safety rules!

Discover what determines the color changes when iodine and starch react.
Find out how to make photosynthesis visible.
Try to synthesize Aspirin.
Develop film and explain how you did it.
Fiddle a wire through an ice cube without drilling holes.
Assess the quality of water and find out what contaminates it.

Extract plant oil and study its properties.
Observe what happens if you dye wool with different colors.
Learn how to make a solution change color.
Determine the amount of caffeine in various sorts of tea.
How do you produce biogas or liquid from organic waste?
Analyze the contents of your toothpaste. Can you find any health hazards?
Make a water filter from scratch.
Why does lemon juice stop apples from browning?
Make a safe smoke bomb.
Document the process of growing crystals.
Identify the pollutants in the air around you.
What makes a flame change color?
Biometric technologies: how do they work?
Study invisible ink. What makes it disappear?
Wine: how do its chemical compounds relate to its taste?
Emulsions: how to make and break them.
Compare the effectiveness of different vegetable oils in biodiesel manufacturing.
Assess the residue of pesticides in vegetables from various markets.
Measure the density of soft drinks. How does sugar affect it?
Conductivity: what types of solutions are the best electrical conduits?
Food and science: how much energy do nuts and chips produce when burned?
Analyze your hair and check for nutrients.
Examine what soap needs to foam properly.
Change a penny’s color to gold.

🤔 Advanced Chemistry Essay Topics

Once you’ve mastered chemistry’s fundamental concepts, you’re ready for the advanced part. Here, you will explore topics such as kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics. Consult our list for 30 interesting advanced chemistry topics:

Polymers: what do we use them for?
How do spectroscopes work?
What chemical information can we find in meteorites?
Spectroscopy and its many applications.
Schrödinger’s Cat: what did it reveal about radioactive decay?
Examine the properties of imino-disaccharides.
The importance of carbohydrate-protein interactions in immunology.
CRISPR: how does it work?
Compare the types of noncovalent bonding.
Investigate how molecular recognition can be produced synthetically.
Describe the impact of nanotechnology.
How does nanoscience change our lives?
What does Le Châtelier’s principle state?
CBD: what advantages does it have?
What causes a chemical process to result in equilibrium?
Compare the types of equilibrium.
BPA: how toxic is it?
Behavior of ideal vs. non-ideal gases.
Magnetism and coordination compounds.
The principles of molecular orbital theory.
Why do certain compounds not exist?
How does water recycling work?
Cloud seeding: when is it useful?
What causes the weather to change?
Why do some plants rely on photosynthesis more than others?
Describe the properties of hydrogen.
Explain the connection between collision theory and concentration.
How do the ab initio methods work?
Chemistry and the brain: impact of neurotransmitters.
Examine the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia.

🦠 Biochemistry Topics to Research

Have you ever wondered what chemical processes happen inside living organisms? Here’s an example: when we breathe, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Biochemistry combines biology and chemistry to find out how life works on a molecular level. It’s a life science that deals with the cells, proteins, and lipids that form the core of every being. Clinical research highly benefits from biochemical knowledge.

Explain enzyme inhibitors and their mechanisms.
What are the benefits of epigenetics?
Enzyme activity: how can you regulate it?

Understanding the role of lipase in pathophysiological processes.
The chemical processes behind metabolism.
Amino acids: industrial applications.
Consequences of a protein deficiency.
Dietary supplements: help or hazard?
How does the Citric Acid Cycle work?
Glycolysis: how does it convert glucose?
How do solutes move through biological membranes?
Explain the sodium-potassium pump.
Describe networks and alliances of the biotechnology industry.
How does the body react to chlorine exposure?
Cells gone rogue: the origins of cancer.
Investigate the functions of hormones.
How can we develop new vaccines?
Discuss the ethics of stem cell research.
The legacy of Dolly the sheep.
SCNT: process and applications.
What are the chemical compounds of blood?
How do you treat hemophilia?
The development of prokaryotes vs. eukaryotes.
Discuss the cloning of a DNA fragment and Southern blotting.
How does oxidative phosphorylation synthesize ATP?
Compare the three types of crystallography.
Copying DNA: the principles of PCR.
How does recombination repair work?
What causes redoximorphic features in various soils?
Obtaining protein structures with x-ray crystallography.

🧬 Organic Chemistry Essay Topics

Organic chemistry serves as the foundation for biochemistry. It is centered on carbon, which is essential to life. Carbon often bonds with other elements as well as itself. That’s what makes it the basis for all organic structures.

Describe the properties of a chiral molecule.
Atmospheric chemistry: methods and observations.
Write about antioxidant potency of polyphenol-rich beverages.
Enantiomers and the Fischer projection practice.
Investigate possible relationships between stereoisomers.
What are the benefits of chemoenzymatic synthesis?
Explore the history of vitalism.
The production of chemicals using carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.
Hydrocarbon: types and reactions.
Examine the four essential types of organic compounds.
How do free-radical reactions work?
Pathogens: infection cycle and disinfection methods.
Give examples of esters in everyday life.
How do you turn alcohols into alkyl halides?
Mechanisms of aerosol formation.
Recent discoveries in molecular tuning.
Chemical warfare: the dark side of organic chemistry.
What makes a plant poisonous?
What makes aromatic compounds unreactive?
Phosgene: what makes it toxic?
Explain the mechanism of the Diels-Alder Reaction.
Alpha carbon reactions: when do aldol condensations occur?
How do you identify organic compounds using infrared spectroscopy?
Bonds as springs: the mechanical molecular model.
Antibiotic resistance: causes and effects.
Identify factors that influence proton chemical shifts.
What does the electron dot structure show?
The properties and reactions of functional groups.
What defines a compound as aromatic?
How do you name amines?

♻️ Green Chemistry Topics to Write About

If you’re concerned with sustainability, green chemistry is your area of choice. It finds ways to make chemical products less harmful to the environment. Research is done at every stage, from the product’s design to its disposal.

How do you prevent pollution?
What do you do with toxic waste?
Discuss the twelve principles of green chemistry.
Source reduction: what are the most effective ways?
Biomimicry: is it the best way to sustainability?
Eco-friendly packaging and its issues.
Compare the effectiveness of various materials used in solar cells.
What are the advantages of molar efficiency?
Ionic liquids: are they the future of eco-friendly reagents?
The U.S. acid rain program: pros and cons.
How can the toxicity of paint be reduced?
Innovative ways to avoid pesticides in agriculture.
What are the types of bio-based renewable feedstocks?
Are bioplastics beneficial for the environment?
How do metathesis reactions help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Computer chips: how do we make them more sustainable?
Alternative energies: making fuel from chicken feathers.
Is carbon capture effective?
Will cultivated meat become a green alternative to traditional farming?
How does the Plantrose process work?
Discuss the petroleum products problem in the U.S.
How efficient is artificial photosynthesis?
What are the best ways to remove carbon pollution?
Electrocatalysis as a way to generate and consume fuels.
Discuss the most pressing issues in green chemistry today.
How does LCA work?
Efficient ways to extract and use critical elements more sustainably
Recycling and recovery of plastic.
Describe the advantages of Levulinc Acid use.
How can we make nuclear energy more viable?

⚗️ Inorganic Chemistry Essay Topics

Metals and minerals are parts of inorganic chemistry. Scientists in this field want to understand the behavior and properties of inorganic compounds. Practical uses include the manufacturing of fertilizers, adhesives, and coatings.

What are the types of nucleosynthesis?
In which ways are chemicals able to bond?
How does molecular symmetry predict the chemical properties of a molecule?
Vibrational spectroscopy: what is it used for?
Discuss the importance of inorganic compounds in biochemistry.
The history of atomic theory: an overview.
Hematite: matter and mineral.
The peculiarities of hydrogen bonds and polarity.
What are the uses of point groups in inorganic chemistry?
Determine the factors that impact Brønsted-Lowry acidity.
How does HSAB explain reaction mechanisms?
What is lattice energy, and how can you measure it?
How do you use coordination compounds as catalysts?
Red Ferrosols: soil management issues.
Examine the drawbacks of the crystal field theory.
Define the selection rules for vibrational transitions.
What is the most effective way to grow synthetic diamonds?
How do you use the angular overlap model?
Explain ligand effects.
The magnetic properties of transition metal oxides.
Gold: how does it serve medicine?
The use of chemistry in jewelry manufacturing.
How does the chemical structure of a gemstone determine its color?
Alexandrite: what makes it so unique?
How do ligand substitution reactions work?
Determine the properties of the light types.
What are the fundamental laws of photochemistry?
What causes phosphorescence?
Alloys: what are their benefits?
The history of brass and its usage.

⚛️ Nuclear Chemistry Topics for an Essay

You’ve probably been x-rayed before. It means you’ve been exposed to radiation. Nuclear chemistry seeks to understand radioactivity-related processes. One of atomic science’s most critical problems is the disposal of radioactive waste.

How do you calculate an element’s half-life?
Compare the three different types of radiation.
What are the common uses of radioactive elements?
How do we know that a nucleus is stable?
Fukushima and Chernobyl disasters: a comparison.
How do elements transmute in the process of nuclear fission?
Cold fusion: will it ever be possible?
Radiation: how does it harm biological systems?
Describe the types of decay.
Nuclear waste: reprocessing, disposal, and transportation.
How is nuclear chemistry used in medicine?
Ways to destroy toxic organic compounds using irradiation.
Interactions between water and radioactive elements.
How are chemosensors used in radiation chemistry?
What are the biological applications of radiochemistry?
The nuclear fuel cycle: managing the disposal of nuclear fuel.
Discuss reactive hazards in the chemical industry.
Compare the efficiency of different extraction methods.
Fission products and surfaces: what happens when 9TcO2 gets in contact with steel?
Isotopic chemistry: what distinguishes it from nuclear chemistry?
Explore the history of NMR.
Henri Becquerel and the discovery of radioactivity.
The relevance of hydrogen in nuclear fusion.
What causes radioactivity?
The adverse effects of ionizing vs. non-ionizing radiation.
Why are some people skeptical about the term “nuclear?”
The Big Bang: how did it create the Universe as we know it?
Discuss the unsuccessful efforts in nuclear arms control.
How does radiocarbon dating work?
Mass spectrometry: ionization techniques.

🧮 Analytical Chemistry Topics for Essays

The matter comes in all forms and shapes. It can be a compound or a single element. If you want to know how matter is structured, analytical chemistry has the answer. Scientists of this branch ensure that our food and other products are safe to consume.

How does activation analysis work?
Why is analytical chemistry important for the environment?
How do you find iron in a mixture of metals?
What are the ways to measure the amount of a specific substance in a compound?

Identifying hazardous substances in cheese.
A simple way to separate chemical compounds: gas chromatography.
Aspirin vs. Ibuprofen: comparing the chemical mechanisms of pain relievers.
Genetically modified foods and their impact on human health.
Food allergies: where do they come from?
The best techniques for quantitative chemical analysis.
What are the standard techniques to measure the endpoint of a titration?
Mass-based analysis: gravimetric analysis.
How do you neutralize WVO?
Drug safety approach in administration and nursing.
Describe the three types of electroanalytical methods.
How do you measure temperature using a calorimeter?
Understanding thermodynamics: the Carnot cycle.
The process of analyzing salt.
How do you identify the shelf life of a medicine?
Ways to find adulterants in drugs.
Compare the healthiness of bottled water based on its chemical compounds.
How can you test cholesterol in blood samples?
Examine how analytical chemistry is used in forensic science.
What are the advantages of spectrochemical methods?
How do you detect pesticides using immunoassays?
Miniaturization: how does it advance analytical chemistry?
Capillary Liquid Chromatography: an overview.
Immunochemistry: applications in environmental analysis.
The development of analytical technology in the past 20 years.
Explain how to determine PAH sources in soil.

🧪 Physical Chemistry Essay Topics

Is chemistry not enough for you? Try combining it with physics! For physical chemists, it is crucial to understand how molecules and atoms act. They use various models to study the structure and behavior of these tiny particles.

Explain how to determine an atom’s electron configuration.
Describe the structure of an atom.
Isotopes: why do they exist?
What is the Time-of-Flight principle?
How do you calculate the mass of an atom?
Define successive ionization energies.
What are the gas laws?
Equation of state: ideal vs. real gases.
Explain why the Earth is considered a closed thermodynamic system.
What is the Avogadro constant?
The difference between empirical and molecular formulae.
Calculating percentage yields: balanced equations.
How do intermolecular forces affect the melting point of a substance?
What are the four types of crystal structures?
Define the types of forces that exist between molecules.
Explain how to relate the melting point and conductivity of a substance to their type of structure.
What is fire in terms of chemistry and thermodynamics?
Reasons why molecules with polar bonds might not have a permanent dipole.
How do internal combustion engines work?
Endothermic or exothermic? Determining enthalpy change.
What are the applications of Hess’s law?
Explain the use of mean bond enthalpy.
When does a collision not cause a reaction?
How does temperature affect the reaction rate?
How do catalysts work?
Describe what Born-Haber cycles are used for.
Explore the history of thermochemistry.
Give examples of quasi-static processes.
The study of chaos: calculating entropy.
When is a reaction reversible?

📓 Chemistry Assignment Topics

We have listed 25 chemistry assignment topics that can be helpful for you! Check them below to find the one that suits you best!

The use of mechanistic principles to develop new catalytic strategies.
Emerging trends in advanced oxidation processes for water treatment.
Quantum mechanics: theoretical foundations of chemical bonding.
The catalytic potential of activated carbon materials.
How does molecular structure relate to chemical function?
The strategies for the chemical sustainability of animal agricultural production.
Applying X-ray fluorescence for elemental analysis.
What factors influence the strength of intermolecular forces?
The green chemistry approaches in organic synthesis.
How can biomimetic chemistry replicate natural processes for sustainable production?
The efficiency of organic methods in exploring the cell-surface sugars.
How do different ligands affect the stability of metal complexes?
The isotope geochemistry of air contaminants.
How do photochemical reactions differ from thermal reactions?
Electrocatalysis in fuel cells and energy storage.
The future perspectives on electrochemical carbon sequestration.
Chemistry of genetic information: DNA and RNA.
The role of catalysis in polymerization reactions.
How does the structure of polymers affect their physical properties?
The recent advances in gaseous hydrocarbon sensing.
How do chemical sensors detect specific ions or molecules?
Nanomaterials and their applications in physical chemistry.
The main principles of molecular design in drug development.
How can Raman spectroscopy be used for in-situ analysis of reactions?
Potential energy surfaces: mapping chemical reactions.

💡 Interesting Chemistry Topics for Presentation

Chemistry offers a wide range of topics you can cover in your presentation! Check some of them listed below:

The main types of chemical reactions.
Creating a quantum mechanical model of the atom.
How to understand organic chemistry with the help of your computer.
The differences in properties of an element’s allotropes.
The sublimation of dry ice: phase changes from solid to gas.
How are greenhouse gases formed in the atmosphere?
VSEPR theory: predicting molecular shapes.
What is the role of enzymes in chemical reactions?
The peculiarities of chemical reactions at the quantum level.
Mechanistic insights into super electrophile reactivity and stability.
What are crystal lattices, and how are they formed?
How does the matter behave in liquids and solids?
Green chemistry: fundamental principles.
What happens during the combustion of magnesium?
The process of chemical synthesis: from molecules to materials.
Spectroscopic techniques in analytical chemistry and their application.
Fundamentals of thermochemistry: heat transfer and temperature changes.
The latest developments in DNA technology and their value.
The chemistry behind the ignition of match heads.
What are the challenges in creating accurate crystal models?
Design and development of novel antimalarial compounds.
The basics of electrochemical cells: galvanic and electrolytic cells.
Analyzing the environmental outcomes of chemical industries.
Factors influencing the rate of the bicarbonate fizz reaction.
Electrolytes vs. nonelectrolytes: distinctions in conductivity.

✏️ Chemistry Essay Topics for High School

We know how challenging it can be for high school students to find perfect chemistry essay topics. That is why we have prepared some fresh ideas to inspire you!

Physical and chemical properties of matter: the main differences.
How do hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces affect the volatility?
The law of multiple proportions and its significance in chemistry.
The trends in electronegativity and electron affinity across the periodic table.
How can plasma properties be explained using kinetic-molecular theory?
The role of acids and bases in biological systems.
Avogadro’s hypothesis: formula, applications, and limitations.
The main characteristics of suspensions and colloids.
What are the applications of electrochemical cells in everyday life?
Acids and bases: the Bronsted-Lowry definitions.
How does the kinetic-molecular theory explain the behavior of ideal gases?
Exploring the concept of atomic mass and atomic mass number.
The use of Lewis structures in predicting molecular behavior.
How do different acids affect the rate of metal corrosion?
Applying calorimetry to determine the enthalpy change of reactions.
How does nuclear fission generate energy in power plants?
Learning the types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent, and metallic.
What is the link between pH and hydrogen ion concentration?
The key examples of endothermic and exothermic reactions.
Calculating limiting reactant and theoretical yield.
What are the safety precautions in handling strong acids and bases?
How does the composition of alloys influence their strength?
The relationship between enthalpy, entropy, and free energy.
Understanding stoichiometry: proportions between atoms in molecules.
How does molecular geometry impact molecular polarity?