Research areas
Our research areas include biological chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical & theoretical chemistry.
Research divisions
The RSC is organised into three broad research divisions: chemical biology, materials chemistry and chemical synthesis.
Biological chemistry involves the scientific study of the chemical processes in organisms. This area deals with the structure and function of cellular components, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules.
Materials chemistry: is a multidisciplinary field that transcends the traditional areas of chemistry, physics, engineering and biology.
Synthesis is the preparation of substances by way of chemical processes.
Research areas
The three research divisions encompass many chemical sub-disciplines. These areas are listed below.
Analytical chemistry and the development of sensors are two closely related fields of chemistry that are focused on the identification and quantification of molecules within complex samples.
Catalysis is the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a substance that itself does not undergo change.
Physical and theoretical chemistry involves the scientific study of macroscopic, microscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems by the application of physics.
The greatest challenges facing 21st century are chemical in nature: addressing energy security and the development of sustainable industry, including the transition away from fossil fuels (decarbonisation) and the remediation of contaminated/polluted environments.
Materials Chemistry involves the scientific study including the history of a material (its processing) influences its structure, and thus the material's properties and performance.
Inorganic chemistry involves the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of all chemical compounds except for the compounds consisting primarily of carbon and hydrogen, which are the focus of organic chemistry.
Medicinal chemistry is focused on the development of drugs, which could be either small molecules or peptides and proteins, for treatment of disease.
We are increasingly able to manipulate and control the structure and behaviour of individual molecules and even atoms – nanotechnology. This opens up the exciting possibility of controlling the fundamental properties of materials such as colour, strength and electrical conductivity.
Physical and Biophysical Chemistry underpin all other chemical disciplines.
Soft matter deals with colloids, granular matter, liquid crystals, polymers, and other easily deformed materials.
Supramolecular chemistry involves the organized arrangement of molecules via the control and manipulation of intermolecular interactions.