Publisher profile

Royal Society of Chemistry

Chemical-science journals with different audiences, review options and routes to open access.

Overview

Chemistry, interdisciplinary chemical sciences and chemistry education

The RSC’s journals serve both chemical researchers and specialist communities. Chemical Science covers the breadth of chemistry and seeks original, substantial advances. Chemistry Education Research and Practice addresses research on teaching and learning chemistry. A classroom study belongs in that educational conversation; a chemical discovery needs a different audience and evidential argument.

The financial model must be checked by title and submission date. Chemical Science’s page now states that its APC waiver applied to submissions before 1 July 2026. Chemistry Education Research and Practice is described as diamond open access, without author charges. An older list of “free journals” can therefore give the wrong answer even within this one publisher.

Publishing model: Subscription and open access, including diamond titles
Subject coverage: Chemistry, interdisciplinary chemical sciences and chemistry education
Journal directory: Browse publisher’s journals
Sources checked: 13 November 2026

The assessment

What the rating tells you.

Read our methodology

Safe & Trusted

The publisher is classified as Safe & Trusted in our directory. This is a positive publisher-level assessment. The next step is to confirm that the particular journal meets your research, funding and institutional requirements.

How the assessment is formed

Our evaluation framework considers peer review, editorial credibility, transparency, publishing ethics, indexing and researcher feedback. The overall rating and category are recorded here; a criterion-by-criterion score breakdown is not included in this record.

A rating is not a guarantee of a journal’s suitability or of a particular publication outcome. Check policies at the journal level and confirm claims at their source.

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Publishing practices
to examine.

Read the sources for each assessment area. Checked 13 November 2026. These summaries describe published policies and verification steps; they do not recalculate the directory rating.

Assessment areaWhat to look forPublisher policies and sources

Editorial accountability

Named editors, relevant affiliations and a clear way to contact the editorial office.

Journal pages identify the editor and link to boards and editorial-office contacts. Use those title-specific details when asking about scope or a decision.Chemical Science boards and contact

Peer review

A documented review model, reviewer selection and a process for editorial decisions.

RSC explains initial assessment and external review. Chemistry Education Research and Practice offers single- and double-anonymised options and optional transparent review; prepare files for the option selected.Assessment and review CERP review options

Indexing and discoverability

The exact journal title and ISSN in the index itself; coverage dates and current status.

Check the exact journal title, ISSN and coverage dates in the database required by your institution. Inclusion of one title does not establish coverage for the publisher’s other journals.Publisher journal catalogue How to verify indexing

Fees and business model

A complete fee schedule, payment timing, waivers and any additional publication charges.

Check the title’s current APC, waiver and agreement eligibility. Do not assume that one diamond journal or an expired waiver describes the whole portfolio.Payments, funding and waivers Chemical Science current charges

Copyright and licensing

The publishing agreement, author rights and a licence that meets your funder’s requirements.

RSC’s licence guidance distinguishes open-access reuse from subscription publishing and manuscript sharing. Confirm the available Creative Commons licence against your funder’s requirements.Licences, copyright and permissions

Ethics and corrections

Policies on authorship, competing interests, misconduct, appeals, corrections and retractions.

The author guidelines describe responsibilities, appeals and manuscript handling. A factual error or a misunderstood result needs a documented explanation to the editor.CERP author responsibilities and appeals

Digital preservation

A named preservation service and a clear long-term access policy.

Portico has a publisher record with linked journal holdings. Check the exact title and the content received or committed there; publisher participation alone does not establish complete coverage of every journal and year.Publisher record and holdings at Portico

Selected journals.
Different audiences.

These examples illustrate the publisher’s range; they are not its complete catalogue. Follow each journal’s page for current scope, editorial information and submission requirements.

Browse publisher’s journal directory

Chemical Science

Broad chemical-science research, including work crossing disciplinary boundaries. Check the current APC and institutional funding options; its earlier blanket waiver has ended.

Explore journal

Chemistry Education Research and Practice

Diamond open-access research and critical discussion of chemistry education. Its focus is learning and teaching, supported by engagement with educational scholarship.