What Are the Subjects Under Chemical Engineering?

When it comes to chemical engineering, there are many different subjects and components that make it up. It may come as no surprise that engineering is complex and challenging, but arguably, that’s what makes it so great, too.

For those that don’t already know, chemical engineering is a mixture of biology, physics, chemistry, and math. Often, chemical engineers work on power plants or in other economic roles responsible for converting raw materials into practical and useful products.

So, with this in mind, this blog post will signpost the many subjects that make up chemical engineering, beginning with thermodynamics, what it is and how it’s useful and ending with technical analysis.

Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics, also a key component in physics, is the application of heat and temperature and their relation to radiation, energy, and other matter. In more basic terms, this is the relationship between the different types of energy. 

The topic is complex and difficult, but an integral subject within chemical engineering. 

Fluid mechanics within chemical engineering

Fluid mechanics is the behavior of different fluids (e.g. liquids, gases, and plasmas), understanding how these work together, and by themselves. Fluid mechanics within chemical engineering is crucial, as most chemistry experiments are conducted during the fluid stage. Therefore, out of all the different subjects, fluid mechanics is arguably the most important.

Environmental management

Environmental management within chemical engineering is concerned with protecting the environment using chemistry. Similarly, this also includes the process of protecting contaminated sites, providing healthy air, soil, and water.

The process of environmental management is a complex one, but needless to say creates thousands of jobs for various chemists.

Technical analysis in a lab is a key subject within chemical engineering

Technical analysis is concerned with collecting data and then analyzing this in a lab, later presenting this data to the appropriate party, e.g. a group of scientists or another department. This subject is essential, allowing chemists to intercept the data for new results, information, and real-world change.

And many others!

Finally, there are also many, many other subjects under this branch of engineering, way too many to list in this short article. Despite this, other popular subjects include industrial chemistry, petroleum engineering, nuclear, and heat, mass, and momentum. 

As there are so many different subjects available, this opens up many different jobs for those studying chemical engineering, alongside providing numerous pathways for future work and development in a career.