National Chemistry Week is a community based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). This annual event unites ACS local sections, businesses, schools, and individuals in communicating the importance of chemistry to our quality of life.
ACS members and NISE Network partners are encouraged to seek out local partners to carry out National Chemistry Week events. NISE Net is sharing a list of partner institutions that have held NanoDay events as a starting point for all ACS members. NISE Net participants can start their search for partners on the ACS page by following the links below.
Volunteer and Event Coordinator Resources
- ACS National Chemistry Week website: www.acs.org/ncw
learn how to get involved as find well as educational content and resources aligned to the yearly theme
- NISE Network resources
- Finding American Chemical Society (ACS) potential collaborators
- Finding NISE Network potential collaborators
- List of NISE Network partners Please contact us for assistance to connect you
- Search the nisenet.org website for more NISE Network chemistry-related resources inducing activities and training materials
More chemistry education resources:
- Logos, artwork, print material - Utilize the NCW Design Toolkit resources to brand your event and align with the campaign
- Reactions: Everyday Chemistry videos and infographics
- American Chemical Society Celebrating Chemistry publication
- ACS Chemistry resources: https://www.acs.org/education/resources.html
- Fusion Science Theater: https://storyformscience.com/fst
- Beyond Benign: https://www.beyondbenign.org/
Annual Themes

2024 Theme: Picture Perfect Chemistry
En Español: Fotografía Perfecta de la Química
Topic: Photography and Imaging
October 20-26, 2024
- NISE Network Chemistry resources
https://www.nisenet.org/chemistry - Photolithography activity
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/photolithography - Light activities
https://www.nisenet.org/light - Telescopes and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
https://www.nisenet.org/telescopes - Microscopes and Tools for the Small
https://www.nisenet.org/microscopes - NISE Network gallery of scientific images
https://www.nisenet.org/scientific-images - Take a Selfie:
- Exploring Tools - Dress Up Like a Nanoscientist
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/dress-nanoscientist - DIY Solar System App
https://www.nisenet.org/diy-solar-system-app
- Exploring Tools - Dress Up Like a Nanoscientist
2023 Theme: The Healing Power of Chemistry
Topic Health & Medicine
En Español: El Poder Curativo de la Química
October 15–21, 2023
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit - NISE Network Health and Medicine resources
https://www.nisenet.org/health - NISE Network Genetics resources
https://www.nisenet.org/genetics - Exploring Products - Sunblock activity
- Exploring Structures - DNA activity
Building with Biology: See DNA activity
2022 Theme: Fabulous Fibers: The Chemistry of Fabrics
En Español: Fibras Fabulosas: La Química de las Telas
Topic: Fabrics
October 16–22, 2022

NISE Network activities connected to the "fabulous fibers" theme
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit - Exploring Products - Nano Fabrics activity
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-products-nano-fabrics - Plants, fibers, and fabrics with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties activities
https://www.nisenet.org/water - Nature of Dye activity
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/nature-dye - Chemistry is Colorful activity
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/chemistry-colorful - I Got No Stains on Me video
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/i-got-no-stains-me
2021 Theme: Fast or Slow...Chemistry Makes It Go!
Reaction Rates
October 17-23, 2021

- www.acs.org/ncw
- Sample event with COVID considerations in place: https://www.acs.org/kidszone
NISE Network activities connected to the "fast or slow" theme
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit - Rocket Reactions
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/rocket-reactions - Exploring Properties - Surface Area
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/surface_area - Mentos and Soda Explosion stage demonstration
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/mentos-and-soda-explosion - Battery Stack
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/battery-stack - Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-fabrication-electroplating - Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystal
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-materials-liquid-crystals - Exploring Products - Liquid Crystal Displays
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-products-liquid-crystal-displays - Snowflakes: Nano at its Coolest
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/snowflakes_nano_at_its_coolest - Exploring Properties - UV Bracelets (try the beads on ice to see changes in the speed of the reaction)
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/exploring_properties_-_uv_bracelets
Online Workshop Recording:
- Online Workshop: Bust out that Chemistry kit for National Chemistry Week 2021 - Fast or Slow...Chemistry Makes It Go! (September 14, 2021)
2020 Theme: Sticking with Chemistry
Glues and Adhesives
October 18-24, 2020
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit - Gum and Chocolate activity
- More NISE Network resources connected to the "sticky" theme
- Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand hands-on activity
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-products-kinetic-sand - Exploring Products - Nano Sand hands-on activity - hydrophobic properties
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/exploring_products_-_nano_sand_nanodays_2011 - Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/biomimicry-nature-nanotech - Biomimicry: Synthetic Gecko Tape through Nanomolding
https://www.nisenet.org/catalog/programs/biomimicry_synthetic_gecko_tape_through_nanomolding - More images and graphics about Gecko feet
- More activities about hydrophobic properties
- Exploring Products - Kinetic Sand hands-on activity
2019 Theme: Marvelous Metals
Explores the properties and uses of metals
October 20-26, 2019
- National Chemistry Week resources www.acs.org/ncw
- American Chemical Society Celebrating Chemistry publication
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Event Planning and Promotion Guide
http://nisenet.org/catalog/explore-science-lets-do-chemistry-event-planning-and-promotion-guide - Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Safety Guide
http://nisenet.org/catalog/explore-science-lets-do-chemistry-safety-guide - Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Promo Videos
http://nisenet.org/catalog/explore-science-lets-do-chemistry-promo-video - Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit - Build a Battery
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/build-battery
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry Event Planning and Promotion Guide
- NanoDays kit - Exploring Materials - Memory Metal
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-materials-memory-metal - TED-ED Ainissa Ramirez: Magical metals, how shape memory alloys work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR-6_lS9vts - Frankenstein 200 kit - Spark of Life
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/spark-life - Frankenstein 200 kit - Battery Stack
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/battery-stack - NanoDays - Electroplating
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-fabrication-electroplating-nanodays-2014 - NanoDays - Exploring Materials - Ferrofluid
http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-materials-ferrofluid-nanodays-08-09-10-11-14 - Incorporating STEM content into superhero themed events
https://www.nisenet.org/blog/post/pow-zap-crash-nano-–-how-incorporate-nanoscience-content-amazing-superhero-science-event - Search our digital library for more activities: nisenet.org/search
2019 - International Year of the Periodic Table - 2019 Year-long event
Celebrating 150th anniversary of the periodic table.
- Resources:
http://www.nisenet.org/events/other/IYPT2019 - The Solar System and the Periodic Table - from Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) - printable posters
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/IYPT/
2018 Theme: Chemistry is Out of This World
Focusing on chemistry of air, plants and water in the outerspace
- American Chemical Society Celebrating Chemistry publication
- Explore Science: Let's Do Chemistry kit
www.nisenet.org/chemistry-kit - NISE Network’s Explore Science: Earth & Space 2018 toolkit:
www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2018 - NISE Network’s Explore Science: Earth & Space 2017 toolkit:
www.nisenet.org/earthspacekit-2017 - NISE Network Exploring Nano & Society – Space Elevator activity
www.nisenet.org/catalog/exploring-nano-society-space-elevator - The Solar System and the Periodic Table - from Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) - printable posters
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/IYPT/ - Online Workshop Recording: Explore Science: Let’s Do Chemistry Kit & Celebrate National Chemistry Week (October 21-27, 2018)
- Online Workshop Recording: Be Prepared: Safety Tips and Reminders for Museums Running Public Events, Including National Chemistry Week and Earth and Space Events (2018)
2017 Theme: Geochemistry Chemistry Rocks!
Covering chemistry of rock
- Celebrating Chemistry publication and other geochemistry materials
- Celebrating Chemistry publication: Chemistry Rocks in English and Spanish
2016 Theme: Forensics: Solving Mysteries Through Chemistry
Focusing on the chemistry of fibers and forensics
2015 Theme: Chemistry Colors Our World
Exploring the chemistry of dyes, pigments, and light
Color and light activities created by the NISE Network
- Exploring Materials - Liquid Crystals (NanoDays 08, 09, 10) activity
- Exploring Materials - Thin Films (NanoDays 2011 and 2012) activity
- Exploring Structures - Butterfly (NanoDays 2012) activity
- Butterfly Blues video
- Zoom into a Blue Morpho Butterfly video
- Interference Acrylics: Painting with Structural Color activity
- Colors at the Nanoscale: Butterflies, Beetles and Opals classroom program
- Exploring Properties - UV Bracelets (NanoDays 2013) activity
- Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs): Cart Version activity
- Exploring Properties - Invisibility (NanoDays 13, 14) activity
- Exploring Products - Sunblock (NanoDays 2011 and 2012) activity
- Biomimicry: From Nature to Nanotech program
- Recorded online workshop March 2013 that included a discussion of light at the nanoscale
2014 Theme: The Sweet Side of Chemistry - Candy
Showcasing the chemistry involved in candy and confections
Candy-related Activities
- Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules (NanoDays 12, 13)
- Sweet Self-Assembly
- Mentos and Soda Explosion
- Exploring Size - Scented Balloons (NanoDays 2010 and 2011) can be related to the candy theme by using scents that smell like candy
- Exploring Properties - Capillary Action (NanoDays 2014) can be related to the candy theme by using candy instead of markers as described here:
- Analyze Candy Using Chromatography activity
Food-related activities
More Resources
2013 Theme: Energy: Now and Forever!
Exploring chemistry and energy with a focus on sustainable resources
Energy Activities
- Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem stage program: gives a brief overview of energy sources and our current energy crisis and discusses a variety of ways that nanotechnology can improve the way we harness energy (improving solar cells), distribute energy (carbon nanotube transmission lines) and use energy (nanotech-enhanced LED bulbs). It is primarily a slideshow presentation, designed for medium-to-large audiences. It consists mostly of a lecture, with a few live demonstrations and a few audience interactions.
- Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions? forum: This forum places participants in the role of a governmental funding agency and asks them to consider how nanotechnology should fit into the timeline and scope of future national energy policy. A scientific expert begins the forum by providing a brief intro to nanotechnology and describing some of its potential benefits and possible uncertainties. A short video follows with three expert perspectives who discuss three possible energy funding strategies.
- The Electric Squeeze cart demo: This cart demo is about piezoelectricity - how some crystals produce electricity when you squeeze them. Visitors learn about the history of piezoelectricity, how it's used, and how it's applied in nanotechnology. They make electric sparks, handle models and listen to cheesy music.
More chemistry activities on nisenet.org
2012 Theme: Nanotechnology: The Smallest BIG Idea in Science!
The American Chemical Society (ACS) has partnered with the NISE Network to provide online outreach resources for National Chemistry Week. NISE Network and ACS educational staff have identified hands-on activities from previous NanoDays kits that can be repurposed for outreach events during National Chemistry Week. Below you will find a description of all relevant activities and a link to the official ACS National Chemistry Week publication featuring NISE net content.
Activities
- Hydrogel: A hands-on activity in which visitors discover how a super absorbing material can be used to move a straw.
- Graphene: A hands-on activity in which visitors use tape and graphite to make graphene and test the conductivity of graphite.
- Gummy Capsules: Visitors make self-assembled polymer spheres. They learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures, and that self-assembly is used to make nanocapsules that can deliver medication.
- Nano Gold: A hands-on activity in which visitors discover that nanoparticles of gold can appear red, orange or even blue. They learn that a material can act differently when it’s nanometer-sized.
- Nano Sand: A hands-on activity exploring how water behaves differently when it comes in contact with nano sand and regular sand. Visitors learn about the hydrophobic properties of nano sand.
- Sunblock: Sunblock is a hands-on activity comparing sunblock containing nanoparticles to ointment. Visitors learn how some sunblocks that rub in clear contain nanoparticles that block harmful rays from the sun.
- DNA: A facilitated, hands-on activity exploring deoxyribonucleic acid, a nanoscale structure that occurs in nature. Visitors extract a sample of DNA from split peas and put it in an Eppendorf tube to take home.
Signage
- Promotional sign for National Chemistry Week PDF (matching NanoDays style format)
- Editable National Chemistry Week activity sign Word Doc (in NanoDays style format)

More Resources
- The official ACS National Chemistry Week 2012 publication: "Celebrating Chemistry" Nanotechnology: the Smallest BIG Idea in Science (PDF) with an introduction to nanotechnology, scientist profiles, and activities to try at home; the publication is targeted at children in 4th-6th grade. Other publications and educational resources can be found here (ACS).
- Webinar presentation for National Chemistry Week Coordinators (August 2012)
- PDF of webinar slide presentation by Darrell Porcello, Lawrence Hall of Science about the NISE Network
National Chemistry Week 2012 Coordinator webinar is available here