Career in Analytical Chemistry

By Institute For Career Research

Are you good in science and math? Do you have a knack for instrumentation and computers? Would you enjoy a life-long career focused on problem solving? Then you may want to consider a career in analytical chemistry. Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that analyzes the content of matter using special instruments such as spectrometers. Employment is projected to increase 20%.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Institute For Career Research
• Release date: Dec 14, 2009
• ISBN: 9781458192394

Book preview

Career In Analytical Chemistry

by

Institute For Career Research

Copyright 2009 Careers Research Reports by The Institute For Career Research CHICAGO

Smashwords Edition

Are You Good In Science and Math? Do You Have a Knack For Instrumentation and Computers? Would You Enjoy a Life-Long Career Focused on Problem Solving? Then You May Want to Consider a Career in Analytical Chemistry

Traits:

Enthusiasm for chemistry & research

Knowledge about other areas of science

Technical skills

Business & administrative skills

Problem solver & enjoy troubleshooting

Detail oriented, organized, & precise

Ability to get along others

Committed to life long learning

What You'll Do:

Separate, identify, & determine the components of substances

Test substances to find out what materials are present samples

Test samples to find out how much of a specific material is present

Isolate, concentrate, and preserve samples

Where You'll Work:

Teaching facilities

Private industries

Government agencies

Research facilities

Earnings:

Entry Level with a Bachelor's Degree:

$30,000 a year

With a Master's: $40,000

With a Doctorates: $55,000

Median with Bachelor's: $55,000

With a Master's: $65,000

With a PhD: $80,000

Education Required:

Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree

A graduate degree

Pluses:

Sense of satisfaction from problem solving & devising solutions

Opportunity to work with other highly educated professionals

Variety of career options

Financial rewards

Minuses:

Ups & downs of the industry within the economy

Keeping up-to-date in field

Pressure of producing research that results in publication

Introduction

Analytical chemistry is a branch of chemistry that analyzes the content of matter using special instruments such as spectrometers. Analytical chemists identify what types of matter are in a substance and how much of the component matter is present. They are able to determine the composition of a substance by the way it reacts when processed; for example, the way a substance sample reacts when exposed to light, electricity, or other energy. Data from the tests help identify its components. If there is no known test for measuring or detecting substances in certain circumstances, the analytical chemist must design a test that will separate and measure the components.

Why is the work that analytical chemists do important? In many instances, analytical chemistry is about ensuring quality. In industry and manufacturing, purity of the product and the proportion of component substances are important to the quality of the product. Analytical chemists sometimes look for minute traces of substances that could be disastrous when spread throughout a product on a large scale. Many industries employ analytical chemists to ensure the quality of products as diverse as plastics and food additives, pharmaceuticals and paints, detergents and fuels.

Analytical chemists also play an important role working for government agencies.