Of atoms and molecules

ALCHEMISTS, apothecaries, Antoine Lavoisier and Avogadro all have one thing in common- Chemistry! From ancient medicine men, to modern-day chemical scientists, all possess the same singular fascination for the subject. Today, studies in Chemistry are not restricted to elements, compounds, mixtures and solutions alone. Chemistry is being used extensively to create materials having the desired properties that are suited for a certain process or product. Chemical processes are also used to produce substances widely used, like paints, fibre, adhesives, cosmetics, drugs, plastics, lubricants and a number of such products. Research in various areas of chemistry has also contributed to a lot of development in the fields of medicine, petrochemicals, fertilisers, food processing etc.

Specialisations in the field include

Analytical chemistry: Attempts to study the composition and nature of a substance and its individual components. This leads to the development of methods related to identifying and quantifying characteristics of compounds.

Organic chemistry: Studies the various carbon compounds that make up all living things. Synthesising elements to create newer and more effective materials is the aim of organic chemistry.

Biochemistry: Aims at studying the composition of life in the molecules of various living things.

Inorganic Chemistry: Deals with studying the properties of all chemical compounds. It also deals with the synthesis of new catalysts and developing new materials.

Physical Chemistry: Studies the physical changes that take place during chemical reactions and the energy that is released during the process.

Other sub-specialisations include geo-chemistry, biomedical, nuclear, petroleum, energy, ceramic, textiles and paper.

The chemical scientist

Chemical scientists engage in research and development. Their work includes making observations of various chemicals and their behaviour, creating new elements and compounds and discovering laws that govern the behaviour of various substances. Their work and findings are then recorded and documented. They also work on improving substances so that they can be more effective in practical use. Chemical scientists also develop and design processes that reduce pollution and conserve energy.

The chemical engineer

Chemical engineers design equipment and processes using the laws of chemistry and engineering. These processes are used to develop chemicals and materials on a large scale. They work in chemical manufacturing plants in the production or control departments.

Qualifications

A. B.E/B.Tech/BSc degree is required to make an entry into the field. If you are interested in research then a PhD is necessary.

Institutes

Most institutes offer courses at both graduate and postgraduate levels. IIT (Kharagpur, Delhi), BITS- Pilani, Andhra University, Jadhavpur University, Calcutta, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, and the Institute Of Paper Technology, Saharanpur are some of the institutes that offer related courses.

In the FMCG industry, graduates in chemistry can work as technical staff. They can also work as lab technicians in schools and colleges, hospitals, wineries/vineyards or at pathology labs. Teaching chemistry in schools, colleges and in institutes of technology is another common field of employment. Chemical, mining, steel, automobile, ceramics, brewing and distilling, petroleum, paint, paper, textiles, and pharmaceutical industries also hire persons with chemistry backgrounds.

Oceanography, and aerospace are other fields in which chemical scientists find employment. Chemical scientists having an interest in the environment can find opportunities to work in water treatment, sanitary and sewage treatment plants. In the government, related research is conducted in the areas of Defence, Health, Science, Minerals and Energy.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR

archana.hyd@cxknetworks.com