Analytical chemistry is the study of the structure and composition of matter, as well as the nature of matter and how different forms of matter interact and react with one another. To solve problems and carry out chemical research projects, a chemical analyst employs scientific, engineering, and mathematical principles. Chemical analysts typically work in either research or industry.
The chemical analyst’s primary responsibility is to plan, set up, and conduct chemical experiments and analyses. In addition to designing experiments, he or she must operate and maintain lab equipment, prepare chemical reagents to exact specifications, and perform other support tasks. In addition to laboratory work, the chemical analyst will spend a significant amount of time writing reports and scientific papers, analyzing data, and designing or modeling experiments using computers.
Designing, carrying out, and analyzing an experiment can take months or even years, though most scientists do not devote all of their time to a single experiment. After an experiment is completed, the chemical analyst must record, analyze, and write up the results in a report. A long-term project may entail dozens or even hundreds of individual experiments, the results of which must be compiled and analyzed to produce a set of data. The purpose and application of this information is usually determined by the type of industry in which the chemist works.
Chemical analysts can work in a variety of settings. They may be involved in quality control in the workplace, where they test products or packaging for structural and chemical integrity on a regular basis. Chemical analysts also have an industrial role in monitoring pollution levels to ensure that they are within acceptable limits. Biochemistry, a related field in medicine, plays a role in disease diagnosis and treatment. Forensic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that applies chemistry principles to provide information that can be used as evidence in criminal investigations.
Chemical analysts have certain characteristics in common, regardless of where they work or what role they play. An analytical approach to problem-solving is required, as is creativity. For laboratory work, good motor skills and hand-eye coordination are required, as is the ability to focus on repetitive or tedious tasks for long periods of time. A chemical analyst must be a good multi-tasker because he or she will be running multiple experiments and working on other tasks at the same time. The analytical chemist’s education, like that of other scientific disciplines, is ongoing, and he or she must keep up with new experimental techniques and technological advances in the field.