If you want a career at the cutting edge of scientific breakthroughs, completing an EPQ chemistry research project is an excellent first step. Choosing the right EPQ or paper topic could inspire you to pursue a pathway that will further cultivate your curiosity in chemistry. Our list of 100 ideas for research projects in chemistry is a good place to start!

What Makes a Great Research Topic in Chemistry?

Consider where your career in chemistry is headed and ask yourself what makes a great EPQ topic for you? Keep these key points in mind:

  • Be specific: narrowing down a question allows you to limit the scope and ensure you have time and resources to answer it fully.
  • Consequences: consider whether your research will add value and address a current issue. 
  • Results: think about the kind of results you will end up with and whether they are worthy of analysis. 
  • Functionality: pick an EPQ topic that can offer practical, real-world solutions. 

100 Research Ideas for Chemistry

Here’s a refined categorization of the topics you’ve provided, organized into distinct and relevant subcategories, with no duplicates:

Chemistry

In-person

Explore the molecular world in Cambridge, home to...

Academic Insights
Provides a thorough introduction to diverse academic fields. Ideal for students beginning to contemplate their future academic paths and eager to explore various disciplines.
Chemistry flasks with green, red and blue liquids
Ages: 16-18

Chemistry

In-person

Delve into molecular mysteries in Oxford, where Nobel...

Academic Insights
Provides a thorough introduction to diverse academic fields. Ideal for students beginning to contemplate their future academic paths and eager to explore various disciplines.
Chemistry flasks with green, red and blue liquids
Ages: 16-18

Research Projects about Environmental Chemistry

  1. The Impact of Plastics on the Environment
  2. The Impact of Climate Change on Ocean Chemistry
  3. The Effects of Fertilisers on Water Quality
  4. The Chemical Properties of Volcanic Eruptions
  5. How Detergents Affect Water Hardness
  6. The Chemistry Behind Acid Rain
  7. The Effects of Climate Change on Soil Chemistry
  8. The Impact of Chemical Pollutants on Biodiversity
  9. The Environmental Impact of Chemical Spills
  10. The Environmental Impact of PFAS
  11. How Chemicals in the Environment Affect Biodiversity
  12. The Effects of Ozone Depletion on Atmospheric Chemistry

Research Project Ideas about Chemistry’s Role in Sustainability

  1. The Role of Chemistry in Waste Management
  2. The Role of Chemistry in Sustainable Agriculture Practices
  3. The Role of Chemistry in Energy Storage Technologies
  4. The Role of Chemistry in Electric Vehicle Development
  5. The Role of Chemistry in Renewable Energy
  6. The Impact of Carbon Footprint Reduction on Chemical Processes
  7. The Chemistry of Renewable Energy
  8. Exploring the Role of Chemistry in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Production
  9. The Chemistry Behind the Production of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
  10. The Role of Chemistry in Developing Alternative Energy Sources
  11. How Renewable Energy Affects Chemical Reactions
  12. The Role of Chemistry in Recycling
  13. The Role of Chemistry in Pest Management
  14. The Role of Chemistry in Environmental Conservation

Research Projects about Climate Change and Chemistry

  1. How Chemical Reactions Contribute to Climate Change
  2. Exploring the Relationship Between Climate Change Solutions and Chemistry
  3. The Role of Chemistry in Climate Change Mitigation
  4. How Climate Change Influences Ocean and Atmospheric Chemistry

Research Projects about Biochemistry and Health Chemistry

  1. How the chemical structure of drugs effect efficacy
  2. Investigating common causes of harmful chemical exposure for humans
  3. The impact of industrial chemicals on public health
  4. How environmental chemicals affect the endocrine system
  5. The role of enzymes in biochemical reactions
  6. The chemical effects of caffeine on the human body
  7. The chemistry behind heart disease and cholesterol
  8. The role of chemistry in pharmaceutical development
  9. Investigating the chemical makeup of DNA
  10. The chemistry of gut health
  11. The chemical effects of cooking on food nutrients
  12. Understanding the chemical effects of sugar on the body
  13. The chemistry behind the effects of alcohol
  14. The role of chemistry in understanding genetic mutations
  15. The chemistry of traditional vs. modern medicine
  16. How pH changes affect enzyme activity
  17. How chemical reactions influence memory
  18. The chemical effects of water pollution
  19. The impact of pharmaceuticals on aquatic ecosystems
  20. The role of chemistry in formulating vaccines
  21. The impact of chemical pollutants on public health
  22. How chemical reactions in the brain influence learning
  23. The role of chemistry in understanding diseases
  24. The chemistry of sunscreen

Research Projects about Materials Science and Product Chemistry

  1. Chemistry and the Development of New Product Materials
  2. The Chemistry of Perfume
  3. Analysing the Chemical Structure of Detergents
  4. The Chemical Properties of Battery Types
  5. The Chemistry of Soap
  6. The Chemistry of Toothpaste
  7. The Chemistry of Pigments and Solvents
  8. The Chemistry Behind Synthetic Fabrics
  9. The Chemistry of Traditional vs. Synthetic Materials
  10. The Chemistry of Smart Material Development
  11. The Chemistry of Rust
  12. The Chemistry of Combustion
  13. The Chemistry of Smart Textile Production
  14. The Role of Chemistry in Sustainable Packaging
Student delivering a chemistry project

Research Projects about Chemical Reactions and Processes

  1. The Chemistry Behind Acid-Base Reactions
  2. Exploring the Chemistry of Corrosion Processes
  3. The Role of Water in Chemical Reactions
  4. The Effectiveness of Water Purification Processes
  5. How Chemical Compounds Influence Flavour
  6. The Role of Chemistry in Industrial Processes
  7. How Temperature Influences Reaction Rates
  8. Emulsification and the Chemistry of Ice Cream
  9. How Food Additives Affect Chemical Reactions in Cooking
  10. The Chemistry of Fermentation

Research Project Ideas about Agricultural Chemistry

  1. The Impact of Agriculture on Soil Chemistry
  2. The Effectiveness of Natural vs. Synthetic Fertilisers
  3. The Chemistry of Biofuels

Research Projects about Food Chemistry and Culinary Science

  1. The Chemistry of Brewing Beer
  2. The Chemistry Behind Creating Artisanal Food
  3. The Science of Food Preservation
  4. The Role of Chemistry in Food Preservation
  5. How Temperature Influences Reaction Rates
  6. Understanding Taste and Aroma Compounds
  7. The Chemistry of Carbohydrates
  8. The Role of Chemistry in Alternative Protein Sources
  9. Exploring the Chemistry of Food Flavourings
  10. The Chemistry of Wine
  11. Exploring the Chemistry of Teas and Their Benefits

Research Project Ideas about The History of Chemistry

  1. How did alchemy pave the way for modern chemistry?
  2. What were the key discoveries in the 17th and 18th centuries that contributed to the birth of modern chemistry?
  3. How did Antoine Lavoisier earn the title “Father of Modern Chemistry,” and what were his major contributions?
  4. What role did Dmitri Mendeleev’s Periodic Table play in advancing the understanding of chemical elements?
  5. How did the discovery of the electron challenge earlier concepts of the atom?
  6. How did Marie Curie’s research on radioactivity influence the development of nuclear chemistry?
  7. What was the significance of the development of the atomic model by Niels Bohr in the early 20th century?
  8. How did the discovery of the structure of DNA revolutionize the field of biochemistry?

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Choose a Captivating Chemistry EPQ Topic Today

Feeling inspired by this list of 100 ideas for research projects in chemistry? Here at Immerse Education we certainly hope so. Chemistry is a diverse and dynamic field that opens up a world of research questions for you to investigate and answer. The key is finding the right one that allows you to follow your specific scientific interests whilst contributing to the chemistry research already out there.

Visit the Immerse Education Chemistry Online Research Programme Page to take the first step. Here you’ll find expert academics who can guide your research process and inspire a university-level essay in your chosen EPQ topic.