IntermediateTopic 63 of 100Materials & Chemical
Introduction to chemical engineering
Design processes that convert raw materials to useful products.
In depth
Chemical engineers design processes that transform raw materials into valuable products safely, economically and sustainably, using chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics. They work in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, energy, materials, environment. Scale-up from laboratory to plant is a core challenge.
Key points
- Process design
- Unit operations
- Safety and environment
ExampleA chemical engineer scales a lab reaction to produce tonnes per day.
Chemical engineering turns raw materials into useful products safely and economically, so it underpins fuels, medicines, plastics and food.
What is Introduction to chemical engineering?
Design processes that convert raw materials to useful products.
Why is it important to understand introduction to chemical engineering?
Chemical engineering turns raw materials into useful products safely and economically, so it underpins fuels, medicines, plastics and food.
What does a chemical engineer design?
Processes and plants that change materials through reaction, separation and transport, while managing safety, cost and environmental impact.
How is chemical engineering different from chemistry?
Chemistry studies reactions at small scale, while chemical engineering scales them up and designs the equipment and operation for production.
How is Introduction to chemical engineering used in practice?
Typical applications include designing a plant to produce ethanol from sugar, scaling up a laboratory reaction to a production unit and planning a process that makes ammonia for fertiliser.
What should I learn before Introduction to chemical engineering?
Study "Recycling and life-cycle assessment" first (topic 62 of 100 in Materials & Chemical). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Introduction to chemical engineering?
Process design. Unit operations. Safety and environment.
Can you give an example of Introduction to chemical engineering?
A chemical engineer scales a lab reaction to produce tonnes per day.
What comes after Introduction to chemical engineering?
The next topic is "Stoichiometry", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Introduction to chemical engineering?
It is classed as Intermediate in Materials & Chemical (topic 63 of 100). It is an intermediate topic. Work through the beginner topics in Materials & Chemical first.