Stav nekemičara prema kemiji je dvojak: pozitivan i negativan. Pozitivna percepcija kemije proizlazi iz njezine korisnosti (u tehnici, farmaciji, medicini, poljoprivredi), a negativna ponajviše iz straha od opasnih kemikalija (eksploziva, otrova). Na primjeru hrvatskog popularizatora znanosti Frana Bubanovića (1883. – 1956.), prvog profesora kemije na zagrebačkom Medicinskom fakultetu, pokazano je kako, da bi kemija bila najšire prihvaćena, nije dovoljno samo ukazivati na njezine uspjehe nego i otklanjati uzroke straha od kemije i kemikalija (kemofobija). Uz prikaz Bubanovićeva stava prema kemiji analizirani su uzroci kemofobije, kako u njegovo tako i u naše vrijeme. The public image of chemistry is both positive and negative; positive because of its application in all human affairs (industry, agriculture, medicine, etc.), and negative for its connection with dangerous chemicals (explosives, poisons). Therefore, a good populariser of chemistry has not only to praise but also to defend chemistry to bring it forth to the common people. The fulfilment of both these requirements is clearly visible in the opus of the leading Croatian populariser of chemistry in the 20th century, Fran Bubanović (1883–1956), the first chemistry professor at the Zagreb School of Medicine (1917). He took pains to persuade the reader that chemistry is not dangerous and difficult to learn but rather a major vehicle for the progress of a nation, and especially an underdeveloped nation, as was Croatia in his time. In this contribution, the general causes of the fear of chemistry and chemicals (chemophobia) were also discussed.