STEM Fields: Chemistry

What is Chemistry?

Chemistry is the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter. This includes elements and compounds composed of atoms, molecules, and ions!

Typically, chemistry is broken down into fives types:

Organic Chemistry

Organic chemistry involves studying the molecules of life and mainly looks at the structure and behavior of these molecules, which are made up of only a few different types of atoms (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and a few others!). These atoms are what makes up the molecules that all animals (including us!) and plants require to live.Organic chemists synthesize new molecules and develop new reactions.

Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry is the science of identifying and quantifying materials in a mixture. Analytical chemists may invent or modify procedures for analyses. Many analytical chemists will work in labs or for companies where they manage or design quality assurance procedures. They also may teach!

Physical Chemistry

Physical chemistry is the study of the physical principles of atoms, molecules, and other chemical systems. There’s a very wide ranges of topics that physical scientists study, from kinetics to thermodynamics. Physical scientists are focused on the atomic level! Many physical chemists will work in academia or chemistry research.

Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic chemistry is focused on the areas that do not deal with carbon (hence, inorganic). However, there is a field of organometallic chemistry that mixes organic and inorganic chemistry!

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical principles behind biological systems. Biochemical research includes topics like regenerative medicine, infection disease, organ and tissue transplants, and genetics.

What careers are there in chemistry?

There are many careers for those interested in chemistry! There are jobs in research and development, quality control/assurance, manufacturing, and academic.

Chemists can do research for industry or academia in many fields, as well as teach. There are a variety of management positions as well as chemical engineering, chemical technology, toxicology, and science communication.

Since chemistry is such a wide field, there are many opportunities to find unique positions more tailored to your specific interests.

What kind of schooling do you typically have as a chemist?

Typically, the minimum education required to be a chemist is a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in chemistry (or related field!). After earning a bachelors, people usually find entry-level jobs, though these may be temporary and more so a chance to gain experience than to stay in long-term.

Some chemists will pursue a Masters or PhD, but this typically depends on the career track that you would like. It is not required for many positions.

There are certain chemistry positions that only require a high school diploma or associates degree. These positions are almost always technician roles that support other roles or perform field needs. Although chemists typically have at least a Bachelors, there are still many options for those who are interested in chemistry in different capacities.

What is the salary for chemists?

Again, since chemistry is such a big field, there are many variations depending on which specific area someone is in.

The average salary for a chemist and material scientist is $88,000 – almost twice the average national salary of $53,000.

According to the American Chemical Society, the unemployment rates for chemists was 2.6% in 2016. The average salary depends on whether a chemist was working in academia, industry, or government

Men in chemistry continue to earn more than women. The average male salary is close to $94K, while women on average earn $78K. Chemical engineers also tend to earn more than chemists.

Where are the best locations to work as a chemist?

Some of the highest paying locations for chemists are in California (Bay Area), Washington (Seattle), Colorado (Boulder, Denver), Georgia (Atlanta), and Texas (Houston).

The locations with the best opportunities will depend on the specific area of chemistry that you’re interested in.

What are the demographics of chemistry?

According to a 2019 C&EN article,

	Chemistry	US Population
Men	63.6% [2]	49.2% [3]
Women	36.4% [2]	50.8% [3]

	Chemistry	US Population
Black	5.5% [1]	13.4% [3]
Hispanic or Latino	7.3% [1]	18.5% [3]
Asian	16.5% [1]	5.9% [3]
White	68.8% [1]	60.1% [3]
Other Race	1.8% [1]
American Indian or Alaska Native		1.3% [3]
Two or More Races		2.8% [3]
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander		0.2% [3]

	Chemistry	US Population
With a disability	9.2% [1]	8.6% [3]

Who are some famous chemists?

Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for her discovery of radium and polonium. Marie made many discoveries in her work within radioactive chemistry.

George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

Although initially not allowed admission to college because he was a Black man, George Washington Carver pioneered the concept of crop rotation in order to allow soil conservation of fields becoming depleted of nutrients due to cotton crops. He worked within the agricultural side of chemistry.

Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)

Rosalind Franklin is remembered for her contributions to the science of coal, DNA, RNA, and viruses. Rosalind’s work was used to determine the double helix structure of DNA, though she was not credited for it.

Alfred Nobel (1833-1896)

The inventor of dynamite and chemist with almost 350 patents. Nobel Prizes are named for him, as he left all of his fortune in his will to be used for presenting awards in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine, literature, and peace.

Marie Maynard Daly (1921-2003)

Marie Maynard Daly was a biochemist and the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry. Marie’s work included the chemistry of histones, protein synthesis, creatine’s uptake by muscle cells, and the relationships between cholesterol and hypertension.

Alice Ball (1892-1916)

Alice Ball was a chemist who developed the “Ball Method,” the most effective treatment for leprosy during the early 20th century.