Chemist Overview

Can you imagine life without table salt, detergent and toilet soap! Not really. These products, which we take for granted have been made possible only by chemical technology. A number of the everyday products depend either directly or indirectly on chemical technology.

 

In fact everything in the environment whether natural or man-made, is composed of chemicals. Chemistry offers a wide field for study and work. Let's explore options within the field of chemistry.Large number of industries depends on chemicals. For instance the drugs industry, food industry (chemicals are used as colouring, flavouring and preserving agents), the petrochemical industry (the largest producer of primary organic chemicals), the plastic and synthetic materials industry (used for manufacture of a wide range of finished products), the soap, cosmetics and cleaning agents industry, paints, coatings and allied products industry and the agrochemicals industry which manufactures fertilisers and pesticides are all dependent on chemicals. 

 

Chemist may work in any of the following sub fields of specialisation: 

 

Analytical Chemists are engaged in conducting chemical analysis of inorganic and organic samples to ascertain their composition, reaction and properties. The Analytical Chemists report their findings to medical or other authorities and conduct statistical analysis. 

 

Organic Chemists work with organic carbon compounds and specialise in petroleum, dyes, rubber, alcohol, oils, natural fats, organic acids, pesticides, organic compounds and their polymerisation and precipitate products which include plastics and soaps. 

 

Inorganic Chemists work with metals, acids, salts and gases. You can specialise in production of acids, salts, minerals, metals, etc.

 

Physical Chemists work with metals, ores, gases, and different chemical elements and compounds to ascertain their physical and chemical properties, radioactivity, structures, atomic and molecular weights, etc. As a Chemist, you can specialise in electrochemistry, thermodynamics, chromatography, etc.

 

Industrial Chemists are primarily engaged in testing samples from production lines. 

 

Biochemist - The action of chemicals, both as a part of chemical reaction and its effect on living systems, is the concern of the Biochemist. 

 

Specialisation: You can also specialise in other related specialisations such as polymers, foods, rubber, paints, petroleum and so on.

 

Research chemists investigate properties, composition, and structure of matter and the laws that govern the combination of elements and reactions of substances. 

 

Development: Chemists are also engaged in developing processes that save energy and reduce pollution, such as improved oil refining and petrochemical processing methods. Research on the chemistry of living things result in progress in field like medicine, agriculture, food processing, and other fields. Chemical scientists also work in a variety of manufacturing industries such as electronics, photographic equipment, and pulp and paper mills.

 

Chemical research has led to the discovery and development of new and improved synthetic fibre, paints, adhesives, drugs, cosmetics, electronic components, lubricants, and thousands of other products.

 

Chemists engaged in research and development work with computers and a wide variety of sophisticated laboratory instruments. They test large quantities of chemical compounds simultaneously in order to find compounds with desired properties.

 

Chemists, involved in the field of applied research and development, create new products and processes or improve existing ones. For example, synthetic rubber and plastics was discovered from research on small molecules uniting to form large ones, a process called polymerisation. 

 

The production and quality control departments in chemical manufacturing plants recruit Chemists. They devise the entire production process for plant workers that specify ingredients, mixing times, and temperatures for each stage in the process. Chemists also look into improving methods of production, maximizing product yield, testing samples of raw materials or finished products to ensure they meet industry and government standards, including the regulations governing pollution. 

 

Chemists involved in production are often exposed poisonous chemicals. But there is little risk if proper procedures are followed. The work hours are pretty regular for chemists in offices as well as laboratories. Research chemists spend most of their time in laboratories. However chemists also do theoretical research or plan, record and report on their laboratory research which involves office work. 

 

Here is a list of science colleges in India

 

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