Chemistry of pre-stellar cores

Pre-stellar cores are unique laboratories for studies of the physical and chemical conditions that precede star formation. With a benign environment and well described physical properties these sources allow for strong constraints to be placed on the line of sight chemical structure. In this paper we will discuss how knowledge of the chemical structure is a pre-requisite to probe gas kinematics and can be used to determine the gas temperature structure. We also discuss how pre-stellar core studies with ALMA and Herschel will greatly extend our knowledge of this important phase of the star formation process.