I applied to 5 schools which is probably around average for my field. I was originally going to apply to 6, but I was so tired of filling them out by the end that I just didn't finish my last application. My adviser suggested applying to 3-4 schools that I had a strong chance of getting into and a couple that may or may not have been out of my reach.
You have to interview to be accepted into Chemistry PhD programs? Which schools do you have to do this for? I was under the impression that you just applied and then got accepted or rejected.