Chemistry puzzles
Science and chemistry-themed puzzles, including wordoku, quick and cryptic crosswords. Test your chemistry knowledge and puzzle-solving skills
Win with GPE Scientific
These cryptic crosswords each contain two special letters. Complete the crosswords and make a note of the letters – if you can work out the chemistry-related term they make, you could be in with a chance of winning one of ten prizes valued at £50 each.
Email your solution to chemistryworld@rsc.org by 24 July 2026 to be in with a chance of winning!
Our latest puzzle pages
Download the latest puzzle pages, complete with all of our puzzles and the previous month’s winners, here. We publish puzzle pages even when there isn’t a print magazine, so remember to check back each month!
July 2026 puzzles
Download the puzzles from the July 2026 print issue of Chemistry World
Cryptic chemistry crossword #141
’Welcome on stage some peculiar things (6)’ to solve this cryptic chemistry crossword
Cryptic chemistry crossword #140
Seek the ’Neat collection of animals (6)’ in this cryptic chemistry crossword
Cryptic chemistry crossword #139
To solve this cryptic chemistry crossword, you will need to ’catch the inventor (4)’
Cryptic chemistry crossword #138
Solve this cryptic crossword and you’ll be the ‘Surprising envy of adorable chemist (5, 3, 6)’
Chemistry wordoku #150
This chemistry wordoku is simply elementary!
Chemistry wordoku #149
Find the American chemist who devoted much of her energy to improving chemical education in Mississippi in this sudoku-inspired puzzle
Chemistry wordoku #148
Find the Cuba-born American chemist particularly associated with fulluerene research in the solution to this sudoku-inspired puzzle
Quick chemistry crossword #105
Thinking like the Italian renaissance polymath, astronomer, artist and physicist will help with this quick chemistry crossword
Quick chemistry crossword #104
Knowing your electrical units will help with this quick chemistry crossword
Quick chemistry crossword #103
Egg experts will find this quick chemistry crossword eggstra eggciting
Quick chemistry crossword #102
Galvanise yourself to solve this quick chemistry crossword
Quick chemistry crossword #101
Indian and Danish physicists meet British astronomers and evolutionary biologists in this quick chemistry crossword