Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry
Spanish scientific society promoting the advancement, teaching, research, professional practice, and dissemination of chemistry and chemical engineering.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ) is Spain's national learned society devoted to chemistry and chemical engineering. Its work covers both fundamental chemistry and practical applications, with an institutional purpose centered on advancing scientific activity, education, research, and professional practice in the discipline. The society serves as a forum for Spanish chemists, educators, researchers, and other professionals through publications, specialist groups, territorial sections, meetings, and links with international scientific organizations. The RSEQ was established in 1980 when the Spanish Royal Society of Physics and Chemistry divided into separate chemistry and physics organizations. Although the current society dates from that division, its institutional and publishing history reaches back to 1903, when the Spanish Society of Physics and Chemistry was founded. That predecessor began publishing a scientific journal and gradually developed a national membership base among experimental scientists, particularly chemists. During the 1920s it expanded its international connections and joined the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. In 1928, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its foundation, it received royal recognition under the name Royal Spanish Society of Physics and Chemistry. The predecessor society established local sections in cities including Seville, Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia and held regular general meetings. Its international profile grew substantially in the interwar period. In 1934 it organized the Ninth International Congress of Chemistry in Madrid, an event that brought together approximately 1,500 chemists from different countries. The Spanish Civil War interrupted the society's development and caused serious disruption, but activity and membership recovered in the postwar decades, particularly from the 1960s as Spain's scientific and industrial environment developed. Specialist organization became increasingly important before the 1980 reorganization. Subject groups included Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, created in 1967, and Adsorption, created in 1978. After the separation from the physics organization, the chemistry society continued to develop disciplinary groups and territorial structures while maintaining biennial meetings. Its publishing program also evolved: the former chemistry annals were divided into physical chemistry and chemical engineering, inorganic and analytical chemistry, and organic chemistry and biochemistry series during the 1980s, later recombined and subsequently published in an international English-language edition. Since 1999, the RSEQ has published the quarterly Anales de la Real Sociedad Española de Química, continuing the Spanish-language tradition of its earlier chemistry annals. The society has also participated in international journal collaborations and is associated with publications covering areas such as European chemistry, inorganic and organic chemistry, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, sustainability, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. In addition to journals, it issues newsletters and other occasional publications. The RSEQ is a member of EuChemS, the European association representing chemical and molecular science societies. Through that relationship and its publishing, meeting, and specialist-group activity, it connects Spanish chemistry with wider European scientific networks. It is a learned and professional society rather than a commercial product brand: its principal offerings are scholarly communication, professional and educational community-building, scientific events, and representation of chemistry in Spain. Publicly available reference material does not establish a single current headquarters location, named founder, or current executive roster.
History
The RSEQ's direct institutional origin is the 1980 division of the Spanish Royal Society of Physics and Chemistry into independent chemistry and physics societies. Its deeper history begins in 1903 with the creation of the Spanish Society of Physics and Chemistry, which brought together professionals in the experimental sciences and began issuing a journal under the society's name. Chemistry was the larger or particularly prominent part of this scientific community, and the organization gradually developed a national structure through local sections and recurring meetings. During the 1920s, the predecessor organization experienced substantial scientific development and internationalization. It joined IUPAC and expanded its domestic organization with sections in major Spanish cities. Royal recognition followed in 1928, when Alfonso XIII granted it the title Royal Spanish Society of Physics and Chemistry on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary. The society's international standing was demonstrated in 1934 when it hosted the Ninth International Congress of Chemistry in Madrid. The congress reportedly attracted about 1,500 chemists from multiple countries, while the society itself had grown to roughly 1,400 members. The Spanish Civil War interrupted this progress and had damaging consequences for scientific institutions and professional networks. Recovery was gradual. From the 1960s onward, the society benefited from broader development in Spanish science and industry. Its specialist structure expanded, including the Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry group established in 1967 and the Adsorption group established in 1978. These groups helped organize activity around increasingly differentiated areas of chemical research. At the end of the 1970s, the decision was taken to separate chemistry and physics into two independent organizations. The modern RSEQ consequently began operating in 1980, with the successor societies holding their early biennial meeting in Burgos from 29 September to 3 October of that year. In subsequent decades the RSEQ continued its meetings, territorial sections, and specialist groups while maintaining the historical role of its predecessor as a national platform for chemistry. Its publishing history reflects the changing structure of the discipline and the increasing internationalization of scientific communication. Between 1980 and 1989, the chemistry annals were issued in three series: physical chemistry and chemical engineering; inorganic and analytical chemistry; and organic chemistry and biochemistry. From 1990 to 1995 these series were reunited as Anales de Química. The journal adopted the title Anales de Química, International Edition, and published in English from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was incorporated into a broader European journal collaboration. The RSEQ nevertheless preserved a continuing Spanish-language publication tradition with the launch in 1999 of Anales de la Real Sociedad Española de Química, published quarterly. The society has also participated in wider European publishing and scientific cooperation. It is associated with EuChemS and has been involved in co-editing or publishing relationships involving journals in analytical, bioanalytical, physical, inorganic, organic, medicinal, biological, and sustainable chemistry. These activities complement its domestic role in meetings, newsletters, occasional publications, education, research communication, and professional representation. The available reference material does not provide a reliable list of current officers, membership totals, or a precise present-day headquarters address.
- 1999
Spanish-language annals continued
[1]The quarterly Anales de la Real Sociedad Española de Química was founded as the continuing Spanish-language publication of the society.
- 1996
International English-language edition
[1]The journal appeared as Anales de Química, International Edition, and was published in English during the 1996–1998 period.
- 1990
Publication series recombined
[1]The three chemistry annals series were brought together again under the title Anales de Química.
- 1980
RSEQ established as an independent society
[1]The chemistry and physics branches separated, creating the modern Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry. An early successor-society meeting took place in Burgos from 29 September to 3 October.
- 1980
Chemistry annals divided into specialist series
[1]The society's chemistry publication was organized into series covering physical chemistry and chemical engineering, inorganic and analytical chemistry, and organic chemistry and biochemistry.
- 1978
Adsorption group created
[1]The society added a specialist group devoted to adsorption.
- 1967
Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry group created
[1]A specialist group focused on organic chemistry and biochemistry was established within the predecessor organization.
- 1934
International chemistry congress in Madrid
[1]The predecessor society organized the Ninth International Congress of Chemistry in Madrid, reportedly attended by approximately 1,500 chemists.
- 1928
Royal recognition
[1]For its twenty-fifth anniversary, the society received the name Royal Spanish Society of Physics and Chemistry from King Alfonso XIII.
- 1920
Internationalization and IUPAC connection
[1]During the 1920s, the predecessor society expanded its international activity and joined the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
Products and positioning
A national learned society and professional community for chemistry and chemical engineering in Spain, combining scientific publishing, education, research support, professional networking, specialist organization, and international cooperation.
Scientific journal · 1999
Anales de la Real Sociedad Española de Química
The RSEQ's continuing Spanish-language chemistry journal, established in 1999 as the successor to the society's historical chemistry annals. It is published quarterly and provides a channel for chemistry-related scientific communication associated with the Spanish chemical community.
Scientific journal · 1990
Anales de Química
A historical title in the society's publishing lineage. After specialist series were used during the 1980s, the series were reunited under this title from 1990 to 1995. It was subsequently issued as an international English-language edition before the society's Spanish-language journal tradition continued under a new title.
Professional and scientific events
Scientific meetings and congresses
The society organizes or supports recurring meetings for chemists, including biennial meetings inherited from its predecessor organization. These events provide venues for presenting research, professional exchange, and interaction among disciplinary groups and territorial sections.
Professional community
Specialist chemistry groups
Disciplinary groups and sections organize activity around fields of chemistry. Historical examples include Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Adsorption, while the wider group structure supports specialist networking, meetings, and scientific communication.
Brand decisions
1998
European journal integrationStrategyBackground
Scientific publishing was becoming increasingly international, and the society's English-language journal was part of a broader European publishing collaboration.
Action taken
The international edition was integrated into a consortium of European chemistry publications, while the RSEQ later maintained a Spanish-language journal under its own continuing title.
Aftermath
The society combined participation in international publishing with continued domestic-language communication through Anales de la Real Sociedad Española de Química.
1980
Separation of chemistry and physics societiesStrategyBackground
The long-established Spanish Royal Society of Physics and Chemistry was reorganized into separate chemistry and physics branches as disciplinary specialization and institutional development increased.
Action taken
The chemistry branch became the independent Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry, while the physics branch became a separate royal society.
Aftermath
The RSEQ continued the chemistry society's meetings, specialist groups, territorial activity, and publishing tradition as an independent organization.
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