Re: chem vs. chem engineering

On Sep 10, 2:57 pm, RichD <r_delaney2...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
What is the difference between chemistry and
chemical engineering?

The difference is bigger than it used to be. When I was in college in
the 1960s, chemEs had to take two intensive years of basic chemistry
before starting engineering courses.

Until 2004, I taught analytical chemistry to classes of resentful
ChemEs. They were only required to take first year intro chem and
analytical in the second year. In the analytical class, they carped
endlessly, 'Why do we have to know this ***?' I found out that they
were getting that attitude from their engineering professors.

It turns out that after a quick glance at kindergarten level
chemistry, ChemEs start learning computer programming, simulations,
and something called 'unit processes', which takes the place of
knowing boring stuff like the periodic table or reaction kinetics.

The modern curriculum assumes that its graduates have nothing in their
futures but the control rooms of refineries and chemical plants. In
fact, many inventors, research chemists, safety engineers, and even
military types I know started their careers as ChemEs.

Dangerous Bill


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