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An understanding of chemical processes in the interstellar medium is necessary if one
is to correctly interpret observational data, to infer physical parameters and to
ultimately unveil how molecular clouds, dense cores, protostars and protoplanetary
disks form and dynamically evolve. However, the complexity of star forming regions,
the uncertainties of important rate coefficients and collisional coefficients, and our
poor knowledge of surface processes render chemical models heavily dependent upon
observational results. In this review I shall summarize astrochemistry achievements,
the main uncertainties and the challenges offered by recent observations. Are we ready
for Herschel and ALMA?
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