Chemical Reviews

Chemical Reviews
Title	Chemical Reviews
Discipline	Chemistry
Language	English
Publisher	American Chemical Society
Country	United States
Frequency	Biweekly
History	1924–present
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	45.7
ISSN	0009-2665
EISSN	1520-6890
CODEN	CHREAY

Chemical Reviews. It is a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society, dedicated to publishing authoritative, comprehensive, and critical reviews of recent research across all branches of chemistry. Established in 1924, the journal has become one of the most highly cited and influential publications in the field, known for its in-depth analyses written by leading experts. Its articles are intended to provide both specialists and non-specialists with accessible overviews of significant advances, historical context, and future directions in chemical science.

History and development

The journal was launched in 1924 under the auspices of the American Chemical Society, with its editorial offices initially based in Easton, Pennsylvania. Its founding was part of a broader movement in the early 20th century to synthesize the rapidly expanding body of chemical knowledge, paralleling the establishment of other major review journals like Angewandte Chemie and Chemical Society Reviews. Early volumes featured seminal reviews on classical topics such as valence bond theory, colloid chemistry, and organic synthesis, reflecting the interests of pioneering chemists like Gilbert N. Lewis and Irving Langmuir. Over the decades, it has evolved to cover emerging fields, including the rise of biochemistry in the mid-20th century, the development of computational chemistry following advances by John Pople, and the modern expansion into nanotechnology and materials science.

Scope and content

The journal publishes critical review articles that encompass the entire breadth of chemical sciences, from foundational physical chemistry and inorganic chemistry to interdisciplinary areas like chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and environmental chemistry. A typical issue contains several lengthy reviews, each providing a detailed examination of a specific subfield, such as advances in asymmetric catalysis, the design of metal-organic frameworks, or the chemistry of RNA interference. These articles not only summarize recent literature from journals like Journal of the American Chemical Society and Nature Chemistry but also offer critical perspectives on challenges and future research trajectories. Special thematic issues are occasionally commissioned, often highlighting areas of intense current interest like artificial photosynthesis or COVID-19 therapeutics.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in all major scientific databases, ensuring its wide dissemination within the global research community. It is covered by services including Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, and PubMed. Its International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is 0009-2665 for print and 1520-6890 for the online edition, with the CODEN identifier CHREAY. The consistent inclusion in these indexing services, particularly the Web of Science maintained by Clarivate, is crucial for calculating its high impact factor and tracking its influence across related disciplines such as biochemistry and pharmacology.

Impact and influence

Consistently ranked among the top journals in chemistry, it boasts one of the highest impact factors in the field, often exceeding 50, as reported by Journal Citation Reports. This metric reflects its role as a foundational resource frequently cited in primary research articles across prestigious publications like Science, Nature, and Cell. The journal's influence extends beyond academia into industrial research and policy; its reviews are routinely used by scientists at institutions like NIH, BASF, and Pfizer to inform research directions. Recognition of its stature is also evident in the numerous awards its authors have received, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, and the Priestley Medal.

Editorial processes

The journal operates under the leadership of an Editor-in-Chief, a position historically held by distinguished chemists, and is supported by a large international editorial board comprising experts from diverse subdisciplines. The peer review process is rigorous, typically involving multiple rounds of evaluation by specialists recruited from institutions like MIT, University of Cambridge, and Max Planck Society. Manuscripts are solicited by the editors or proposed by authors, with an emphasis on originality, comprehensiveness, and clarity. The editorial team works closely with the publisher, the American Chemical Society, to maintain high production standards and to implement ethical publishing guidelines in line with organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Related publications

It is part of a family of high-impact review journals published by the American Chemical Society, which includes Accounts of Chemical Research and Chemical & Engineering News. Outside this family, it competes and collaborates with other major international review journals such as Chemical Society Reviews from the Royal Society of Chemistry, Angewandte Chemie International Edition from the German Chemical Society, and Nature Reviews Chemistry. While each publication has its distinct focus and style, collectively they form the cornerstone of the review literature, guiding researchers through the vast output of primary journals like Journal of the American Chemical Society, Advanced Materials, and Organic Letters.

Category:Chemistry journals Category:American Chemical Society academic journals Category:Publications established in 1924