What Is Chemical Engineering?Chemical analysis engineer

Chemical engineering is applied chemistry. It is the branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and operation of machines and plants that perform chemical reactions to solve practical problems or make useful products.

What Is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is applied chemistry. It is the branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and operation of machines and plants that perform chemical reactions to solve practical problems or make useful products. It starts in the lab, much like science, yet progresses through the design and implementation of a full-scale process, its maintenance, and methods of testing and improving it.

What Is a Chemical Engineer?

Like all engineers, chemical engineers use math, physics, and economics to solve technical problems. The difference between chemical engineers and other types of engineers is that they apply knowledge of chemistry in addition to other engineering disciplines. Chemical engineers sometimes are called 'universal engineers' because their scientific and technical mastery is so broad. You could consider a chemical engineer to be a type of engineer who knows a lot of science. Another perspective is that a chemical engineer is a practical chemist.

4:32

What Do Chemical Engineers Do?

Some chemical engineers make designs and invent new processes. Some construct instruments and facilities. Some plan and operate facilities. Chemical engineers also make chemicals. Chemical engineers have helped develop atomic science, polymers, paper, dyes, drugs, plastics, fertilizers, foods, petrochemicals, pretty much everything you can imagine. They devise ways to make products from raw materials and ways to convert one material into another useful form. Chemical engineers can make processes more cost-effective or more environmentally friendly or more efficient. Chemical engineers also teach, work with the law, write, create new companies, and perform research.

As you can see, a chemical engineer can find a niche in any scientific or engineering field. While the engineer often works in a plant or lab, she's also found in the boardroom, office, classroom, and out at field locations. Chemical engineers are in high demand, so they typically command higher salaries than chemists or other types of engineers.

What Skills Does a Chemical Engineer Need?

Chemical engineers work in teams, so an engineer needs to be able to work and communicate with others. Chemical engineers study mathematics, energy and mass transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, separation technology, matter and energy balances, and other topics of engineering, plus they study chemical reaction kinetics, process design, and reactor design. A chemical engineer needs to be analytical and meticulous. Someone who is great at chemistry and math and loves solving problems would enjoy the discipline. Typically chemical engineering progresses to a masters degree because there's so much to learn.

What does a chemical engineer do?

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products.

What is chemical analysis in chemistry?

Chemical analysis, chemistry, determination of the physical properties or chemical composition of samples of matter. A large body of systematic procedures intended for these purposes has been continuously evolving in close association with the development of other branches of the physical sciences

How do you become a chemical engineer?

How to Become a Chemical Engineer. Chemical engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a related field. Employers also value practical experience. Therefore, internships and cooperative engineering programs can be helpful.

What are the different types of Chemical Engineers?

Some chemical engineers, known as process engineers, specialize in a particular process, such as oxidation (a reaction of oxygen with chemicals to make other chemicals) or polymerization (making plastics and resins). Others specialize in a particular field, such as nanomaterials (extremely small substances) or biological engineering.