What Do Chemists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Chemists conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge. They also analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct quality control tests.
• Maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed.
• Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.
• Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.
• Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.
• Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.

We asked Chemists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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58% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Chemists maintain laboratory instruments to ensure proper working order and troubleshoot malfunctions when needed. They analyze organic or inorganic compounds to determine chemical or physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, or reactions, using chromatography, spectroscopy, or spectrophotometry techniques.

A typical day for a Chemist will also include:

• Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.
• Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests.
• Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency or to diagnose malfunctions.
• Conduct quality control tests.
• Induce changes in composition of substances by introducing heat, light, energy, or chemical catalysts for quantitative or qualitative analysis.

We asked some Chemists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	43% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	34% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	48% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Chemists also purchase laboratory supplies, such as chemicals, when supplies are low or near their expiration date. They may also develop, improve, or customize products, equipment, formulas, processes, or analytical methods.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Chemists Confer with scientists or engineers to conduct analyses of research projects, interpret test results, or develop nonstandard tests. They might also Prepare test solutions, compounds, or reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct tests.

In addition, they Evaluate laboratory safety procedures to ensure compliance with standards or to make improvements as needed.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Direct, coordinate, or advise personnel in test procedures for analyzing components or physical properties of materials.

To some Chemists, it is also their responsibility to Study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, or packaging on composition or properties of foods.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Chemist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/chemists-and-materials-scientists.htm

http://www.acs.org/

http://www.mrs.org/