Branches of Chemistry and their Scope – Which Type of Chemistry Field is Best
Branches of Chemistry and their Scope – Which Type of Chemistry Field is Best
Chemistry is called the central science, which means all the branches of science are linked to chemistry at some point. It plays a vital role in our everyday life, from scientific studies like Aerospace, medicine, and engineering to the approach of fashion and arts. Chemistry is part of everything and when someone masters a specific field of chemistry, he/she can excel in that field in all the ways including financial aspects as well as scientific and technical features.
Chemistry is the study of matter and its change. Generally, chemistry is subdivided into five branches that are; Analytical Chemistry Organic Chemistry Physical Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry, and Biochemistry. Additionally, we recommend that the two other distinctive majors in chemistry should also be included in the subdivisions of chemistry fields that are; Polymer Chemistry and Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry, which makes it a total of seven types of chemistry fields. So,
7 types of chemistry fields – Major Fields of chemistry – Main Branches of Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry: Studies and Analysis of chemical species using various instruments and applying chemical techniques. It has a lot of career opportunities, especially in industrial and research laboratories.
- Organic Chemistry: Studies the chemistry and applications of Organic Compounds. It has countless research opportunities. Mostly Scientists are engaged in studying Organic Chemistry because of its numerous applications in daily life.
- Physical Chemistry: It is a worthy discipline of Chemistry because of its applications interlinked with Physics and Matehmatics. All the instruments used in chemistry labs like HPLC, GC, AAS, MS, etc., are working under the principles of Physical Chemistry.
- Inorganic Chemistry: It deals with the synthesis and behavior of inorganic compounds. It has applications in almost every aspect of the chemical industry, which includes catalysis, material sciences, pigments, surfactants, coatings, medications, fuels, and agriculture.
- Polymer Chemistry: This field especially focuses on the chemical synthesis, structure, and chemical as well as physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. Soft and hard types of plastics are part of every material we use today and this is one of the practical implications of polymer chemistry.
- Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry: studies the practical approach of chemical sciences and the production aspects at the industrial level. It is the manufacturing art of chemistry related to the transforming of matter into advantageous and useful materials in required quantity. Generally, this modification of available materials into more profitable and desirable ones involves some kind of process following a recipe.
- Biochemistry: It is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology. It has a vast range of career options like Biomedical scientists, Biotechnologist. Clinical research associate or Clinical scientist, in Forensic lab, Medicinal chemist, Pharmacologist, Physician associate, Scientific laboratory technician and many more.
We have mentioned above the basic/ Major fields of chemistry, now it’s time to introduce you to the applied forms to those different types of Chemistry fields.
Note: You should be aware that the subfields of chemistry mentioned below are the applications of the main fields of chemistry mentioned above as the majors in chemistry
Applied Areas of Chemistry – The Applications of Main Branches of Chemistry
Serial No. | Sub-field | Major Field |
1 | Environmental Chemistry | Analytical / Physical Chemistry |
2 | Agriculture & Food | Organic / Inorganic / Analytical Chemistry |
3 | Computational Chemistry | All Majors can be studied under computational Chemistry |
4 | Forensics | Analytical / Organic Chemistry |
5 | Paint, Pigments, and Coatings | Organic / Inorganic / Physical Chemistry |
6 | AstroChemistry | Physical Chemistry |
7 | Cheminformatics | All Majors can be studied under computational Cheminformatics |
8 | GeoChemistry | Analytical / Physical Chemistry |
9 | NanoChemistry | Physical Chemistry |
10 | Personal Care | Organic / Inorganic / Analytical Chemistry |
11 | Biotechnology | Organic / Analytical Chemistry |
12 | Toxicology | Analytical/ Inorganic chemistry |
13 | Crystallography | Physical Chemistry |
14 | Materials | Physical Chemistry |
15 | Nuclear | Physical Chemistry |
16 | Textiles | Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry |
17 | Chemical Engineering | Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry |
18 | Dyes, Pigments, and Inks | Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry |
19 | Medicinal | Organic / Analytical Chemistry |
20 | Oil and Petroleum | Analytical / Applied Chemistry / Industrial chemistry |
21 | Water Chemistry / Water Testing | Analytical chemistry |
Branches of Chemistry and their Scope – Which Type of Chemistry Field is Best
In order to join any of the above-mentioned subfields of chemistry as your career path, you have to select the relevant major for that field mentioned next to it.
Now we are going to discuss the scope and availability of these subfields of chemistry one by one so that you can get a detailed insight into the specific areas of chemistry and make up your mind to select one of them as your major subject.
We have described all the available Areas of Chemistry; mainly we recommend you to select the topic of your own interest. The major which you like will ultimately take you to success because with your interest you will work at your full capacity.
The Scope of Chemistry Fields
Branches of Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry: This subfield of chemistry has a lot of career and research scope as you know the world is so much concerned about climate change and Environmental chemistry is the main subject to tackle this global issue.
Agriculture & Food: Food and Agriculture are the everlasting areas of concern for humanity. No doubt this area of chemistry has so much potential to work for upon; consequently so many career options.
Computational Chemistry: This is one of the latest disciplines of chemical sciences which covers almost all Majors of chemistry that can be studied under computational Chemistry. When something is regarded as new being the latest aspect, it means new and innovative options and career paths are waiting for the individuals.
Forensics: Usually it clicks to the mind that forensics means crime investigations, but it includes the sampling and testing of marine (aquatic) life and environment as well as testing and sampling of materials that are under the jurisdictions of regulatory affairs and an ordinary person does not has access to such things. Which means being a part of a classified research team.
Paint, Pigments, and Coatings: This is a huge industry with a lot of growth potential from large to smallest scale. Even if you start manufacturing Paint, Pigments, and Coatings at your home and selling it to the wholesalers, you can generate a handsome amount of capital.
AstroChemistry: Elon Musk needs you for his Mars Mission! All the space agencies like NASA, ROSCOSMOS, CSA, CNSA, JAXA, ISRO, etc., need the services of Astrochemists to analyze and research the rocks and materials from space.
Cheminformatics: It is also a part of computational chemistry but with a slightly different approach. In Computational Chemistry, different software is used to study complex problems in the various areas of Chemistry. Whereas in Cheminformatics the applications of chemistry are linked with computer and information science techniques.
Geochemistry: The study of changing chemical properties of different land areas and their usability. It offers reasonable career options both in government and private sector firms with handsome salaries, because of its outdoor work routines.
NanoChemistry: Again the latest disciplines of chemical (material) sciences with a lot of innovative career options.
Personal Care: Personal care products and cosmetics are the undeniable essentials of daily life for individuals of all ages. It has un-ending options of careers.
Materials: it involves the design and synthesis of materials with interesting or potentially useful physical characteristics, such as magnetic, optical, structural, or catalytic properties. It has potential career aspects in industries and research.
Nuclear: It is a well-known field of chemistry and its career paths are just amazing, providing all the top-notch perks and privileges to professional Nuclear Scientists.
Textiles: It’s among the evergreen Areas of Chemistry, we need clothes and textile products every time. Just imagine how many times you have to buy some wearables per year? Many people do it 10 times more than you. It’s an unending demand of the world, having plentiful professional and research-based career options.
Chemical Engineering: It’s basically the engineering aspect of chemistry where instead of studying detailed theoretical chemistry you have to study the practical implantation of chemical knowledge. It definitely has a lot of career options with relatively more salary than a chemist.
Medicinal: It is one of the huge industry setups and highest in demand than any other industry. In the medicinal /Pharmaceutical sector, the demand of chemists for quality control testing and formulation is of vital importance. Additionally, this sector contributes to paying handsome salaries to it employees. Luckily there are a lot of jobs for chemists in this field.
Oil and Petroleum: This sector also provides handsome salaries to the employees, however, careers in this industry depend upon the geological location. If you are living in an oil-exporting/ importing region then it’s best for you. Otherwise, you can apply abroad (KSA, UAE & Other Oil exporting countries), they pay extraordinary salary for working with them.
Water Chemistry / Testing: The quality of water is of prime health concern at all corners of the world. Government bodies and public-private sectors are working for testing as well as improving the quality of drinking water in every region. So, it has considerably good career options. Moreover, one can establish his/her own water testing lab anywhere with the lowest financial expenditures and can start earning with that.
Branches of Chemistry
Conclusion: We have described the importance and career (job + business) aspects of almost all Branches of Chemistry and their sub-fields. It true that some have better career options than others and some have more potential in research. We still recommend you to go with the field of your interest and excel in that, so that you can become the subject matter expert and the world will look upon you to lead in that particular chemistry major subject field.
You may also want to know about jobs and careers after graduating in chemistry; click on the link below.
Click on the link below to read about the Business Opportunities for Chemists.
Link: Business Opportunities for Chemists
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