College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering grows based on the former College of Chemistry of Peking University. College of Chemistry, the first chemistry department in China, was founded in 1910. In 1952, after the national wide universities adjustment, College of Chemistry of Peking University was combined with former departments of chemistry of Tsinghua University and Yanjing University. In 1994 College of Chemistry was renamed as College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering (abbreviated to College of Chemistry). The former technical physics subject was merged into College of Chemistry in 2001.

Now, College of Chemistry is set up with 5 departments: Department of Chemistry, Department of Material Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemical Biology; 5 institutes: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry; 2 state key laboratories, 2 MOE key laboratories and research centers: State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Organic and Molecular Engineering, Analysis and Test Center of Peking University, Experimental Chemistry Center of Peking University, and Nano-Chemistry Technology Research Center of Peking University. Inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, polymer chemistry and physics, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry are the key majors by the MOE. At the end of 2003, MOST approved College of Chemistry and Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science to jointly prepare to construct Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science. College of Chemistry undertakes Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica and University Chemistry, and hold Research Center of High School Chemical Education by the trust of MOE.

College of Chemistry has now 210 faculty and staffs, including 10 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (academician), 15 Changjiang Professors, 2 lecture professors, 59 professors, 52 associate professors. 33 staffs have obtained National Science Fund for Distinguished Youth Scholars of NNSF. 11 staffs have acquired Class B National Science Fund for Distinguished Youth Scholars with the cooperation of foreign scholars. The number of articles recruited by SCI of College of Chemistry keeps about 400 per year since 2000, and high level articles are increasing.

College of Chemistry has fine conditions for experimental education. The Experimental Chemistry Center, which is composed of 5 basic experimental course laboratories, Medium Instrument Laboratory and Comprehensive Chemistry Laboratory, has total used area of more than 3600m2. The instruments and devices with total price of more than 200 million RMB guarantees the systematical experiment and comprehensive quality training for students. Furthermore, the new south chemistry building had completed in October, 2007. Further improvement had been made on the research and teaching conditions of College of Chemistry. College of Chemistry has about 700 undergraduates, 500 graduates and 60 post doctors in school. Elite students from all of the country study in good academic atmosphere of College of Chemistry and has gained excellent achievement.

For more details, please refer to: http://www.chem.pku.edu.cn