Is Chemical Physics a good journal?

Chemical Physics is a strong target if the official scope excludes routine use or minor extension of established experimental or theoretical methods. It is a weaker fit if the journal explicitly excludes routine use and minor extensions of established methodologies.

What is the Chemical Physics JIF?

The JIF is 2.4 (publisher-displayed). See the full year-by-year trend and category ranking in our Chemical Physics JIF analysis.

What is the acceptance rate of Chemical Physics?

Manusights currently treats Not publicly disclosed as an estimate for Chemical Physics, not an official journal-published rate. One common reason papers fail is a routine method applied to one system.

How long does Chemical Physics take to review?

Chemical Physics's current journal metrics list 5 days submission to first decision (publisher display). Expect an editorial screen first, then confirm scope and article route.

Is Chemical Physics peer reviewed?

Yes, Chemical Physics is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by Elsevier displays five days from submission to first decision and states that suitable submissions typically go to at least two reviewers..

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Journal Guide

Publishing in Chemical Physics: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide

Q: What does Chemical Physics look for in submissions?

Non-routine insight: The official scope excludes routine use or minor extension of established experimental or theoretical methods.

Q: What should I know before submitting to Chemical Physics?

Name the physical question before the technique. The title, abstract, and first figure should make the chemical-physics insight easy to route.

Elsevier's Chemical Physics journal for non-routine experimental or theoretical physical-chemistry insight connected to the right evidence.

Should you submit here?

Submit if the official scope excludes routine use or minor extension of established experimental or theoretical methods. Be careful if the journal explicitly excludes routine use and minor extensions of established methodologies.

IF 2.4 (publisher-displayed) · Not publicly disclosed accepted · 5 days submission to first decision (publisher display)Last reviewed Jul 14, 20261 official · 0 estimated · 1 unverified signals

Best fit if

The official scope excludes routine use or minor extension of established experimental or theoretical methods

Not ideal if

The journal explicitly excludes routine use and minor extensions of established methodologies

Also compare

J. Chem. Phys.and J. Phys. Chem. C

2.4 (publisher-displayed)

Impact Factor

Not publicly disclosed

Acceptance Rate

5 days submission to first decision (publisher display)

Time to First Decision

Readiness Scan

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Free 1 to 2 minute scan. Get a fit score, top issues, and the specific Chemical Physics desk-reject patterns flagged before you submit.

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What Chemical Physics Publishes

Chemical Physics publishes experimental and theoretical chemical physics and physical chemistry with novelty, quality, and general interest. Elsevier states that experimental work should be related to theory and theoretical work connected to present or future experiments.

Electronic and structural dynamics, reaction mechanisms, and spectroscopy
Fundamental catalysis, solar-energy conversion, and chemical reactions
Atoms, molecules, proteins, clusters, surfaces, interfaces, and bulk matter
New methodologies or important physical-chemical insight beyond routine application

Editor Insight

“Chemical Physics is not a catch-all chemistry route. The package must show a non-routine physical-chemical insight, the evidence that supports it, and an honest connection between experimental and theoretical interpretation.”

What Chemical Physics Editors Look For

Non-routine insight

The official scope excludes routine use or minor extension of established experimental or theoretical methods.

Experiment-theory connection

Frame experimental work in relation to theory and theoretical work in relation to present or future experiments.

A complete editable package

Provide editable source files, figures, tables, required declarations, and relevant data information.

A proportional claim

Make the physical-chemical consequence visible without treating a system-specific result as a general method advance.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Chemical Physics's editorial review:

A routine method applied to one system

The journal explicitly excludes routine use and minor extensions of established methodologies.

Experiment and theory presented as separate stories

The official scope expects each side to connect to the other where applicable.

Non-editable or incomplete source files

Elsevier requires editable source files for text, figures, and tables at submission.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Chemical Physics's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Chemical Physics Authors

Name the physical question before the technique

The title, abstract, and first figure should make the chemical-physics insight easy to route.

State the model boundary

Explain what the result establishes in the studied system and what would require a different experiment or calculation.

Audit the data route before upload

The current guide requires a repository deposit and linked data citation, or a statement explaining why sharing is not possible.

The Chemical Physics Submission Process

Confirm scope and article route

Before preparing files

Check that the manuscript has non-routine physical-chemical insight and fits the journal's current author guidance.

Build the editable submission package

Initial submission

Prepare editable Word or LaTeX source, separate figures, declarations, supplementary files, and data information.

Upload through Editorial Manager

Initial submission

The publisher routes Chemical Physics submissions through its online system, which creates a peer-review PDF from the uploaded files.

Editorial assessment and review

Publisher aggregate, not an individual forecast

Elsevier displays five days from submission to first decision and states that suitable submissions typically go to at least two reviewers.

Chemical Physics by the Numbers

Publisher-displayed Impact Factor(Current ScienceDirect journal page)	2.4
CiteScore(Current ScienceDirect journal page)	4.2
Submission to first decision(Publisher aggregate)	5 days
Submission to acceptance(Publisher aggregate)	72 days
Online ISSN	1873-4421

Before you submit

Chemical Physics accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full Review from $39, with local pricing shown before checkout. If you need deeper submission planning, choose the Submission-Ready Dossier. The full report is calibrated to Chemical Physics.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Research article

Experimental or theoretical chemical-physics research with novelty, quality, and general interest.

ChemPhys Perspective

Invited perspective format.

Special Thematic Issue article

Research contribution in a current special-issue topic.

Landmark Chemical Physics Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Molecular dynamics studies
Reaction mechanism research
Spectroscopy and electronic-structure investigations

Preparing a Chemical Physics Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Chemical Physics and know exactly what editors look for.

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Primary Fields

Chemical PhysicsPhysical ChemistrySpectroscopyReaction DynamicsMolecular and Materials Systems

Related Journal Guides

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Latest Journal-Specific Guides

Submission guideChemical Physics Submission Guide: Fit, Evidence, and Initial PackageA source-checked Chemical Physics submission guide for authors deciding whether their physical-chemistry result is non-routine, evidence-ready, and complete for Elsevier submission.

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