Chemistry has always acted as the "core-business" of the Montelibretti headquarters, with researchers engaged in the study of air quality and atmospheric pollution in urban and industrial areas, of emerging pollutants in emissions and in ambient air, side by side over time by colleagues who are experts in atmospheric modeling and advanced sensors.

In addition to the standard and official measurement methods, the CNR-IIA activities also concern the development and validation of new methodologies to measure air quality parameters and define the sources of pollution, through automatic detection systems, sensors in remoto or sensor network. The institute also carries out evaluation of chemical processes and pollutant abatement systems.

All with the fundamental support of the laboratory structures, fundamental for the analysis and development of prototypes