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What is chemical engineering? The use of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to design and manufacture products through chemical processes. Chemical engineering arose from the need to apply physical, chemical, and engineering principles to the processing of such varied products as fuels, drugs, foods, plastics, metals, microelectronics, and basic chemicals. Chemical engineering: What are the various subdivisions? Biochemical engineering Biomedical engineering/bioengineering Biomolecular engineering Genetic engineering Materials science and engineering Metallurgical engineering Nanoengineering Paper science and engineering Plastics engineering Textile engineering What is nanoengineering? Nanoengineering is the practice of engineering on the nanoscale. Nanoengineering is part of chemical engineering. What are examples of nanoscale? 1 meter = 100 centimeters 1 meter = 1000 millimeters 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters 1 millimeter = 1000 micrometers 1 micrometer = 1000 nanometers 1 nanometer = 1000 picometers What are various examples? Nanoparticles = 1 to 100 nm Coarse particles (PM10, or dust) = 2500 to 10,000 nm Thickness of paper = 100,000 nm Silver nanoparticle diameter = 0.04 micrometers or 40 nanometers Atoms and small molecules = 0.1 nm What was in front of me while writing this research presentation? While I was writing this research paper, I had a hard green plastic chair in front of me. I had to author this research presentation quickly—within 3 hours. Dr. Asif Qureshi asked how engineers made this hard green plastic chair. Nanoengineering. Nanoengineering is a subdivision of chemical engineering. What are the product specifications? Product Type: Armchair Assembled Height: 35.5 in. Assembled Length: 36 in. Assembled Width: 30 in. Assembly Required: No Frame Material: Resin Number of Pieces: 1 pc Seating Capacity: 1 Person Stackable: Yes Style: Adirondack UV Protected: Yes Weather Resistant: Yes Weight Capacity: 250 lb Folding: No Frame Color/Finish: Green Product Material: Strong, durable resin construction that is virtually maintenance free On September 7, 2021, this chair cost $31.99 in America. What is the advantage of making such a chair in Srinagar? Once this product is manufactured, other products from similar materials can be manufactured, including products applicable to aircrafts, such as seats, folding tables or cup holders, computer monitor frames, and radio frames. Questions you need to answer. How do you manufacture such chairs in Srinagar? What are various resin-based products? What resources are required? Who must further author project reports in a question-and-answer format for manufacturing resin products in Srinagar and similar locations? Here are further guidelines. https://qureshiuniversity.com/engineers.html Chemical Engineers are involved in a broad range of industries, leading to their contribution to the production of a wide range of products. Some examples include: plastics, bulk chemicals, fine & speciality chemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, synthetic fibres, clean water, energy, oil products, advanced materials, fertilisers, food, confectionery & dairy products, tea & other beverages, and artificial organs. Chemical engineers have been improving our well-being for more than a century. From the development of smaller, faster computer chips to innovations in recycling, treating disease, cleaning water, and generating energy, the processes and products that chemical engineers have helped create touch every aspect of our lives. What Are Some Specific Job Functions of Chemical Engineers? Specifically, chemical engineers improve food processing techniques, and methods of producing fertilizers, to increase the quantity and quality of available food. They also construct the synthetic fibers that make our clothes more comfortable and water resistant; they develop methods to mass-produce drugs, making them more affordable; and they create safer, more efficient methods of refining petroleum products, making energy and chemical sources more productive and cost effective. Chemical engineers also develop solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution control and remediation. And yes, they process chemicals, which are used to make or improve just about everything you see around you. |
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Chemical engineers work in: * Manufacturing * Pharmaceuticals * Healthcare * Construction and design * Pulp and paper * Petrochemicals * Energy production * Food and drink processing * Specialty chemicals * Water * Biotechnology * Microelectronics * Electronic and advanced materials * Polymers * Ceramics * Extractive industries * Engineering consultancy * Business services * Environmental health and safety industries Fuels and Energy Petroleum (ExxonMobil, Shell) Natural Gas/Utilities Hydrogen (Air Products) Batteries (Duracell) Fuel Cells (UTC Fuel Cells, PlugPower, Nuvera) Commodity Chemicals Agricultural Chemicals Plastics (GE Plastics) Rubber (B.F. Goodrich) Specialty/Consumer Chemicals Adhesives (3M) Specialty Chemicals (Kodak) Paints, Varnishes, Inks Soaps, Detergents (Proctor & Gamble) Cosmetics, Perfumes (Clairol) Advanced Materials Glass (Corning) Ceramics (Saint Gobain) Composites Polymers (WL Gore) Metals Catalysts (Englehard) Textiles Petrochemicals (ICI) Air Chemicals (Air Products, Praxair) Medicine Biotechnology (Genzyme) Biomedical Devices (Abiomed) Transportation Auto (GM) Aerospace (United Technologies, GE) Microelectronics (Intel, IBM, GE) Pharmaceutical (Pfizer) Process Control (Fisher, Foxboro) Process Design (Aspen Plus) Food and Beverages (ADM, Coca-Cola, National Starch) Pulp and Paper Design and construction (Bechtel) Environmental, safety, and health Job Titles Within the subdisciplines listed above, chemical engineers work as: * Production Engineer * Process Engineer * Production Manager * Maintenance Engineer * Process Control Engineer * Design Engineer * Environmental Engineer * Manufacturing Engineer * Research Engineer * Development Engineer * Technical Service Engineer * Quality Control Engineer * Chief Executive Officer Do chemical engineers work in teams? All the time, yes. They work in teams in industry and so we have them do a lot of team projects in their classes. Chemical engineering, remember, has do to with the large scale production of products. And that requires team work. You must like working on teams to be a good chemical engineering, so it helps to be personable. And if you have leadership skills, great; that quality will help you move up to be a manager. Chemical engineering is concerned with the ways in which raw materials are changed into useful and commercial end products. This involves the research of raw materials and their properties, design and development of equipment and the evaluation of operating processes. These skills are combined to extract raw materials which can then be refined and manufactured to produce such things as food, petrol, plastics, paints, paper, ceramics, minerals and metals. Often these processes are carried out at large scale plants – the safe operation of these plants is also part of chemical engineering. What types of job do Chemical Engineers have? There can be involvement in: fundamental or applied research, product design, plant management, economic analysis, construction, commissioning & decommissioning, operation, safety analysis, process development, pollution control & prevention, consultancy, technical sales & marketing, management, business & finance, and education. Chemical Engineers work from design and construction to commissioning and production. What products do Chemical Engineers make? Chemical Engineers are involved in a broad range of industries, leading to their contribution to the production of a wide range of products. Some examples include: plastics, bulk chemicals, fine & speciality chemicals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, synthetic fibres, clean water, energy, oil products, advanced materials, fertilisers, food, confectionery & dairy products, beer & other beverages, and artificial organs. Where do Chemical Engineers work? The largest employer of Chemical Engineers is the Oil and Gas Sector (about 20%); Chemicals & Allied Products employ about 17%; Contracting Companies are at 12%, the same as Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare; Business & Finance are at 10%; Consultancies employ 8%; Energy (gas, coal and nuclear) employs 6%; Food & Drink is at 5%; the Water industry at 4%; Process Equipment Manufacturers employ 4%; and the remaining 3% work in the Education Sector. What do Chemical Engineers earn? Chemical engineering graduates in the UK or Ireland can expect to earn an average starting salary of £26,000 – ranking third only to Medicine and Dentistry. The 2008 IChemE Salary Survey (http://www.tcetoday.com/salarycalculator/) suggests graduates are most likely to begin their career in the oil sector, where average starting salaries are £31,000. It doesn’t take long for the salaries to grow in UK chemical engineering. The average wage for chemical engineers aged 25–29 is £33,700, rising to £47,500 for those in their 30s. Chemical engineers in their 40s will earn on average £60,500 and £68,000 in their 50s. For those aged 60–65, who have typically risen to very senior positions, the average salary is £70,500. And for those engineers eagerly anticipating the joys of retirement, perhaps it’s time to think again. The few who choose to work past 65 in the UK and Ireland earn an average salary of £100,000. Why become a Chartered Chemical Engineer? Becoming a Chartered Engineer demonstrates professional recognition of your expertise. You will get a pay rise of typically £5,000 per year once you become chartered. As a Chartered Engineer, your career earnings will be at least 25% higher compared to someone who is not chartered. How do I become a Chartered Engineer? Firstly you need to obtain an accredited degree, an MEng degree programme is the direct route, or you can follow a BEng degree programme, but this requires further academic qualification at the Masters level (MSc). Then you need to spend 4 or 5 years developing your professional experience and skills in industry, supervised by a Chartered Engineer – one year might be on placement during your degree. During this period you will need to complete some required and elective assignments. Finally you submit a report on your experience and need to pass a panel interview. What can Chemical Engineering bring for the future? In the biochemical engineering area, developments are leading to better health care products, safer disposal of toxic wastes, and both cheaper and safer production of industrial chemicals. Exciting new examples of this at the research level are the development of artificial organs and prosthetics through tissue engineering. Researchers are trying to grow human tissue, such as bone, veins, arteries and cartilage for use in replacement surgery. In chemical engineering advances are being made in the development of more efficient catalysts, novel materials for hydrogen storage, applications in electronics and communications like Blu-ray DVD, carbon capture technologies, and in the area of fuel cells and remote or portable sources of power. The impact of climate change is a matter of international concern and it will be chemical and process engineers who are responsible for finding the solutions. Aerospace engineers focus on the design and development of aircraft, spacecraft and other nonterrestrial vehicles and their systems. What do aerospace engineers create? * Commercial aircraft, military fighter jets, helicopters, spacecraft, missiles and rockets * Models of airflow around cars, airplanes and wind turbines * Structural design, guidance, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication and production methods * Aerodynamically efficient wings and surfaces that reduce the drag on airplanes, racing cars and sailboats * Lightweight materials for use on airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft * Propulsion systems for airplanes, rockets and interplanetary spacecraft Bioengineers develop tools and equipment needed in medicine and biology. They also study fundamental principles of the functioning and structure of living systems. What do bioengineers create?Bioengineering at work * Tools to help blind people see and paralyzed people walk * Medical instruments and materials * Cutting-edge devices for diagnosis and treatment * Artificial organs * Customized devices for special health care or research needs * Safety standards for devices * Standards for the selection and use of medical equipment * New biocompatible materials and implants Chemical engineers apply chemistry, physics and mathematics to the process of converting raw materials and chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. What do chemical engineers create? * Plastics, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, computer chips, specialty chemicals and bioproducts * High-performance materials for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental and military uses * Methods to reduce the pollution created during manufacturing * Techniques to recover usable materials from wastes * Methods for safe and affordable production of medicines * Techniques for energy production Civil, environmental and sustainable engineers work to achieve safe and sustainable development in a cost-effective, environmentally protective and socially responsible manner. What do civil, environmental and sustainable engineers create? * Buildings, skyscrapers, bridges and airports * Transportation systems, including mass transit, airports, highways and ports * Geotechnical systems for tunnels, landfills and earthquake suppression * Water infrastructure including reservoirs and dams, canals, river systems and groundwater management * Drinking water, sewage treatment, wastewater reuse and desalination systems * Systems for air-pollution control * Processes to manage complex human-natural systems Computer scientists engage in computer design, computational process development, and information transfer and transformation. What do computer scientists create? * Web search engines * MP3, movie and video game technologies * Email, online video sharing and social networks * Interactive maps and GPS * E-government, online banking and stock trading systems * Electronic health records storage * DNA sequencing tools * Antivirus and firewall protocols for computer security * Supercomputers * Image recognition software * Robot and artificial intelligence * Human-machine interfaces Computerized hand Computer systems engineers design integrated hardware and software solutions for technical problems. What do computer systems engineers create? * PDAs, iPods and cell phones * PCs and supercomputers * Audio and video codec * Game engines * Pacemakers and patient vital-sign monitors * Software and systems for avionics * Process control systems for petroleum refinery plants * Robots * Internet switches and routers * Automobile safety systems * Cryptographic devices Construction managers organize, lead and manage the building process. What do construction managers create? * Infrastructure systems such as roads, railroads, airports, dams, canals, transmission and distribution lines, water and wastewater processing facilities * Schools, stadiums, high- and mid-rise offices and other commercial buildings * Power plants, refineries, wind farms, and solar, metal processing, pharmaceutical and semiconductor facilities * Residential developments such as houses and condominiums Electrical engineers apply the laws of electricity to developing a variety of electrical, energy and computing devices and applications. What do electrical engineers create? * Consumer electronics such as cell phones and iPods * The power grid * Circuits inside computers * Solar cells * Lasers and electronic sensors * Motors and automotive electronics * Aircraft anti-collision radar * Antennas and satellite communication systems * Control systems for robots and aircraft * Wireless communication systems Industrial engineers combine the physical, mathematical and social sciences to design efficient manufacturing and service systems that integrate people, equipment and information. What do industrial engineers create? * Supply chains that move materials around the globe * Road networks and airline schedules that move people * Industrial plants for manufacturing products * Health care delivery systems * Customer service and support networks * Safe and efficient workplaces * Product quality and safety standards * Financial products and capital budgeting plans Materials engineers are focused on the relationships between the structure and processing of materials and their properties. What do materials engineers create? * Core components for the automobile, aerospace, construction, manufacturing, electronics, computer and telecommunications industries * Processes that shrink the size of electronic circuits to make them cheaper and faster * New materials for cell phones * Metals, plastics and ceramics * New materials for engines that improve energy efficiency * Artificial skin, hip joints and veins * More efficient solar cells and hydrogen fuel cells Mechanical engineers draw upon the basic sciences to design, build and control the devices, machines, processes and systems of modern society. What do mechanical engineers create?Manufacturing robot * Power-producing systems based on solar or wind energy * Techniques for measuring the acoustics of a concert hall * Machines that help people with disabilities * Sophisticated computer models for predicting the forces on turbine blades * Methods to make products using computer-aided design * Hybrid fuel systems for the next generation of land, sea and air vehicles * Techniques for harvesting energy from walking * Robots for manufacturing What Is Chemical Engineering? Chemical engineering basically is applied chemistry. It is the branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction, and operation of machines and plants that perform chemical reactions to solve practical problems or make useful products. What Is a Chemical? Answer: Short answer: Everything is a chemical. Longer answer: Chemistry is the study of matter and its interactions with other matter. Anything made of matter is therefore a chemical. Any liquid, solid, gas. Any pure substance; any mixture. Water is a chemical. Technically speaking, so is a chunk of your computer. A chemical can often be broken down into components, as is true with your computer. However, people generally use the term 'chemical' to refer to a substance that appears homogeneous or the same throughout its structure. What Is a Chemical Element? Answer: A chemical element, or an element, is a material which cannot be broken down or changed into another substance using chemical means. Elements may be thought of as the basic chemical building blocks of matter. Depending on how much evidence you require to prove a new element has been created, there are 117 or 118 known What Do Chemical Engineers Do? Some chemical engineers make designs and invent new processes. Some construct instruments and facilities. Some plan and operate facilities. Chemical engineers have helped develop atomic science, polymers, paper, dyes, drugs, plastics, fertilizers, foods, petrochemicals... pretty much everything. They devise ways to make products from raw materials and ways to convert one material into another useful form. Chemical engineers can make processes more cost effective or more environmentally friendly or more efficient. As you can see, a chemical engineer can find a niche in any scientific or engineering field. Q How long does it take to become a Chemical Engineer? A After a bachelor's degree, which takes four years of study in college, you are a chemical engineer. Some chemical engineers pursue advanced degrees so that they may have a career in research or academia. Q Where do young Chemical Engineers work? A Bachelor's degree chemical engineers usually have their first job related to chemical, pharmaceutical, or biotech operations. This work may be in the field or in an office. Some young engineers work for contracting firms and may be involved in plant design, start-up, troubleshooting or validation. Q What do young Chemical Engineers do? A Depending on the type of position, chemical engineers usually participate immediately in the most important aspects of a company's operations. Typical assignments might be the start- up, operation, and analysis of a process unit within a larger facility. Process engineers would also be the key people to design grass root facilities. Q What are the opportunities for advancement? A After a short period of time, typically five years or less, a young chemical engineer is usually offered the opportunity to participate in other areas within a company, such as, business or marketing functions. Some ChE's seize this opportunity and others choose to stay involved in the more technical aspects of the company's operations. ChE's find that they can advance in their careers by staying technical or by moving into business or management. Some companies have a formal two-track career path available to engineers. What is the course structure like? Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering The Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree course has four levels and is normally a four-year course if it is completed as full-time (one level per year). Level One, which is common to all engineering branches, includes an introduction to the main Engineering disciplines: Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Materials and Mechanical engineering and also the following units some of which are electives: � Engineering Systems � Engineering Computing � Engineering Context � Engineering Mathematics � Physics in Engineering � Chemistry in Engineering � Is there a lot of Chemistry in Chemical Engineering? The Chemical Engineering degree course includes relatively few subjects under the heading of chemistry. However, aspects of physical chemistry and chemical thermodynamics are covered in several Chemical Engineering core and options stream subjects. � Can a language be studied as part of a degree? � Do the courses have any industrial experience built into them? � How do I gather further information on specific subjects? � Can courses lead to accreditation with professional organisations? Yes, the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) is fully accredited by the Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEAust) and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK). This means that as a graduate you can practice as a chemical engineer in many parts of the world without needing to re- qualify. What are the career and job options for graduates from the courses offered by the Faculty? Example industries which employ chemical engineers together with a description of their processes and products are listed below: Industry Examples of processes and products Oil refining Refining of crude oil to produce petrol, other fuels, oils and feedstocks for the petrochemical industry. Petrochemicals Processing of crude oil into plastics such as polythene, polystyrene, polypropylene. Chemicals Making fertilizers, detergents and cosmetics Pharmaceuticals Making the medicines required by an expanding population worldwide. Minerals Processing bauxite ore to produce aluminium � used wherever we need a lightweight strong material or a good conductor of heat and electricity. Food processing Making beer from malted barley, hops and water. Making cheese, yoghurt and dried milk from milk. Environmental Solving air and water pollution problems. Developing new processes with high efficiency and minimal impact of the environment. Energy Developing new high efficiency, environmentally friendly processes for generation of electric power from fossil fuels. Paper Recovery and recycling of chemical used in breaking down wood into wood pulp for manufacture of paper. Biotechnology Developing processes for using renewable raw materials (e.g. plants) for manufacture of fuels, medicines, plastics, chemicals etc. What does the job of a Chemical Engineer working in manufacturing and production involve? ●Process engineer � works on an existing process. Maintains production. Solves problems (troubleshooting). Works on ways of increasing production rates when required (de- bottlenecking) ●Design engineer � designs processes and equipment for clients within or external to his own company. This can be a copy of an existing process but with a different production rate or it could be an entirely new process. The design must be safe, profitable and meet environmental emissions standards. ●Research engineer � invents new products and processes. Improves efficiency, safety and environmental performance of existing processes What are the benefits of a career in Chemical Engineering? Chemical engineering offers technological challenge including problem solving, intellectual satisfaction, variety, and flexibility in a changing world, working with people in a professional team, social value � helping society, international opportunities, good salary, and responsibility. What is Chemical Engineering all about? What do soap, toothpaste, aspirin, photographic film, mobile phones, paint, petrol, paper, instant coffee and clean power have in common? The answer is, like many other everyday things we take for granted, they all involve chemical engineering at some stage of their manufacture. Chemical engineering is concerned with the economic and safe design, operation and management of processes in which raw materials are converted to useful and valuable products by chemical and physical means and with minimal environmental impact. Chemical engineering has its foundation in chemistry, physics and mathematics; its operations are developed from knowledge provided by these sciences and by other branches of engineering, applied sciences, biological sciences and economics. What are polymers? What is Polymerization? What are different types of polymerization? What is Oxidation? Polymerization is a process in which small molecules called monomers combine together to form a large molecule called a polymer. The polymerization process has different types like addition polymerization, condensation polymerization, chain growth polymerization, emulsion polymerization, etc. Each type of polymerization has its own advantages and disadvantages. Like addition polymerization is a type of polymerization in which the monomer molecules join together without any loss of a portion of the molecules the basic monomers keep repeating themselves. In condensation polymerization the monomer molecules do not retain themselves as such what normally happens is that a small portion of the monomer molecules is removed out of it. Since after the polymerization process overall size of the product is condensed that is why it is called condensation polymerization. Another type of polymerization is free radical polymerization, in this type of polymerization radical forming agents decompose on heating into two radical each of which has an unpaired electron. When such a radical meets a monomer the double bond of the monomer is opened up and the radical combines with the monomer through covalent bond at one end leaving an unpaired electron at the other end. The resulting radical reacts with additional monomer molecules in a chain growth reaction until it is terminated by another radical or by an added terminator molecules in a chain termination reaction. Without polymers, mankind couldn't exist. People use manmade plastics such as polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride (i.e., PVC) in hospitals, schools and their own homes. Yet, man-made plastic accounts for only a small percentage of polymers. Rubber and cellulose, which are natural polymers, are used to make everything from tires to cellophane to rayon. Deoxyribonucleic acid (i.e., DNA) and protein are also natural polymers. As important as polymers are, they wouldn't exist without monomers, which are small, single molecules such as hydrocarbons and amino acids. These monomers bond together to form polymers. The process by which these monomers bond is called polymerization. Polymerization isn't a complicated subject, but the ways in which monomers are put together vary so much that scientists find it easier to have more than one system of describing polymerization. One system of separating polymerization processes asks the question of how much of the original molecule is left when the monomers bond. In "addition polymerization", monomers are added together with their structure unchanged. This kind of polymerization could be likened to a kid playing with a Lego set. The Legos put together make a larger structure, but in the end the individual Legos are still discernable. Not so in condensation polymerization. This process results in a polymer that is less massive than the two or more monomers that joined to form it. This happens because not all of the original monomer is allowed to stay on the polymer. Hydrogen chloride and water are usually thrown from the mix when polymers form in this manner. A good analogy might be what happens when kids try to make a popsicle-stick village. The popsicle itself has to be discarded (most often through eating!) in order to be able to use the stick itself. While the condensation versus addition systems of describing polymerization may be useful, it is not the only way to see how polymers might form. Another way of explaining how monomers form polymers involve observing how the monomers combine with one another. In chain growth polymerization, one monomer is added to the collection at a time until a polymer is formed. This is the simplest process of polymerization. A more complicated process is called step-growth polymerization. Here, it isn't just one monomer joining the party at a time. It can happen that way, but it's also possible for a group of monomers to show up together. Eventually, there will be enough monomers to create a polymer. Polymerization is a necessary process. Only through this forming of larger molecules could the human brain exist. In actuality, nothing at all could exist without polymerization, for without a brain to experience life and define its processes, there would be no reason to exist. Examples of Polymers Addition Polymers: * polythene (plastic wrap) * polypropylene (car bumper bars) * polyvinyl chloride, PVC (electrical insulation, guttering) * polyvinylidenechloride (GLAD wrap) * polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON) * polyvinylacetate (PVA glue) * polystyrene (packing & insulation) * natural rubber Condensation Polymers: * Dacron (a polyester) * nylon-6,6 (fibre) * bakelite (old electrical switches) * proteins What is Oxidation? A freshly-cut apple turns brown, a bicycle fender becomes rusty and a copper penny suddenly turns green. What do all of these events have in common? They are all examples of a process called oxidation. Oxidation is defined as the interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances they may contact, from metal to living tissue. Technically, however, with the discovery of electrons, oxidation came to be more precisely defined as the loss of at least one electron when two or more substances interact. Those substances may or may not include oxygen. (Incidentally, the opposite of oxidation is reduction � the addition of at least one electron when substances come into contact with each other.) Sometimes oxidation is not such a bad thing, as in the formation of super-durable anodized aluminum. Other times, oxidation can be destructive, such as the rusting of an automobile or the spoiling of fresh fruit. We often used the words oxidation and rust interchangeably, but not all materials which interact with oxygen molecules actually disintegrate into rust. In the case of iron, the oxygen creates a slow burning process, which results in the brittle brown substance we call rust. When oxidation occurs in copper, on the other hand, the result is a greenish coating called copper oxide. The metal itself is not weakened by oxidation, but the surface develops a patina after years of exposure to air and water. When it involves oxygen, the process of oxidation depends on the amount of oxygen present in the air and the nature of the material it touches. True oxidation happens on a molecular level � we only see the large-scale effects as the oxygen causes free radicals on the surface to break away. In the case of fresh fruit, the skin usually provides a barrier against oxidation. This is why most fruits and vegetables arrive in good condition at the grocery store. Once the skin has been broken, however, the individual cells come in direct contact with air and the oxygen molecules start burning them. The result is a form of rust we see as brownish spots or blemishes. Oxidation can also be a problem for car owners, since the outermost layers of paint are constantly exposed to air and water. If the car's outer finish is not protected by a wax coating or polyurethane, the oxygen molecules in the air will eventually start interacting with the paint. As the oxygen burns up the free radicals contained in the paint, the finish becomes duller and duller. Restoration efforts may include removing several layers of affected paint and reapplying a new layer of protectant. This is why professional car detailers recommend at least one layer of wax or other protectant be used every time the car is washed. The secret of preventing oxidation caused by oxygen is to provide a layer of protection between the exposed material and the air. This could mean a wax or polyurethane coating on a car, a layer of paint on metal objects or a quick spray of an anti-oxidant, like lemon juice, on exposed fruit. Destructive oxidation cannot occur if the oxygen cannot penetrate a surface to reach the free radicals it craves. This is why stainless steel doesn't rust and ordinary steel does. The stainless steel has a thin coating of another metal which does not contain free radicals. Regular steel may be painted for protection against oxidation, but oxygen can still exploit any opening, no matter how small. This is why you may find a painted metal bicycle still damaged by rust. Can one do part of the degree overseas? Do you include the use of computers in subjects studied? Do I need to buy a computer? How many hours a week do I have to study? How do I apply? --------------------------------------------------------- Nature of the Work Chemical engineers build a bridge between science and manufacturing, applying the principles of chemistry and engineering to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals. They design equipment and develop processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing electronics, photographic equipment, clothing, and pulp and paper. They also work in the healthcare, biotechnology, and business services industries. The knowledge and duties of chemical engineers overlap many fields. Chemical engineers apply principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and mechanical and electrical engineering. (See chemists and materials scientists; physicists and astronomers; mechanical engineers; electrical and electronics engineers, except computer; and mathematicians elsewhere in the Handbook.) They frequently specialize in a particular chemical process such as oxidation or polymerization. Others specialize in a particular field, such as materials science, or the development of specific products such as fertilizers and pesticides, automotive plastics, or chlorine bleach. They must be aware of all aspects of chemicals manufacturing and how it affects the environment, the safety of workers, and customers. Because chemical engineers use computer technology to optimize all phases of research and production, they need to understand how to apply computer skills to chemical process analysis, automated control systems, and statistical quality control. Employment Chemical engineers held about 33,000 jobs in 2002. Manufacturing industries employed 55 percent of all chemical engineers, primarily in the chemicals, electronics, petroleum refining, paper, and related industries. Most others worked for professional, scientific, or technical services firms that design chemical plants or perform research and development or other services, mainly for chemical companies. Job Outlook Little or no growth in employment of chemical engineers is expected though 2012. Although overall employment in the chemical manufacturing industry is expected to decline, chemical companies will continue to research and develop new chemicals and more efficient processes to increase output of existing chemicals. Among manufacturing industries, pharmaceuticals may provide the best opportunities for jobseekers. Many of the jobs for chemical engineers, however, will be in nonmanufacturing industries, especially services industries such as research and testing services. Even though no new jobs due to growth are expected to be created, many openings will result from the need to replace chemical engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Earnings Median annual earnings of chemical engineers were $72,490 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $58,320 and $88,830. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,520. According to a 2003 salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor�s degree candidates in chemical engineering received starting offers averaging $52,384 a year, master�s degree candidates averaged $57,857, and Ph.D. candidates averaged $70,729. 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Materials & Equipment A chemical reaction is usually defined by chemical change which occurs. Four common chemical reactions include: 1. Single Replacement Reactions (a type of oxidation-reduction reactions) 2. Double replacement reactions (metathesis reactions) 3. Acid-base reactions 4. Synthesis Reactions Single Replacement Reactions In a single replacement reaction, electrons are transferred from one chemical species to another. The transfer of electrons results in a change in the nature and the charge of the species. The single replacement reaction is a form of an oxidation-reduction reaction. A real-world example of a single replacement reaction is the formation of rust on cars. In its simplest form, iron (Fe) in the car's metal body can oxidize forming iron oxide (Fe2O3), also known as rust. Chemically, the iron reacts with water and oxygen to form hydrated iron oxide. To learn more about oxidation-reduction reactions, click here. Double Replacement Reactions Whether an ionic compound dissolves in water is determined by its solubility. Therefore, we use the solubility rules to decide if a solid will become a solution when mixed with water. The general solubility rules for common salts are as follows: A reaction in which the chemical reactants exchange ions but do not change oxidation state is called a double replacement reaction. This type of reaction is characterized by the formation of a solid precipitate. (see the solubility rules above) For example, the reaction of aqueous silver nitrate (soluble) with aqueous sodium chloride forms solid silver chloride and aqueous sodium nitrate. Acid-Base Reactions 1. An acid is any compound which can donate a proton. 2. A base is any compound which can accept a proton. In an acid-base reaction, an acid and a base will react to form a salt and water. During the reaction, a proton is donated by the acid to the base to yield water. The remaining ions form a salt. Here, hydrochloric acid (a proton donor) reacts with sodium hydroxide (a proton acceptor) to form sodium chloride (a salt) and water. Synthesis Reactions A synthesis reaction is a chemical reaction in which a certain product is sought. For instance, one may mix salicylic acid with acetic anhydride to make aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid). The desired product here is aspirin. Though all of the above reactions are a form of a synthesis reactions, they are not usually performed because of the products formed. Organic Substance, a substance that contains carbon combined chemically with at least one other chemical element. Substances lacking carbon are called inorganic substances. What Are Organic Molecules? Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids What is the difference between an organic and an inorganic molecule? What substances are within the realm of organic chemistry? Organic molecules are the chemicals of life, compounds composed of more than one type of element, that are found in, and produced by, living organisms. The feature that distinguishes an organic from inorganic molecule is that organic contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas inorganic molecules do not. The four major classes of organic molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates The term carbohydrates is actually a descriptor of what these molecules are composed of; “carbon hydrates,†in a ratio of one carbon molecule to one water molecule (CH2O)n. The word saccharide is a handy synonym for carbohydrate, because it can be preceded with a prefix that indicates the size of the molecule (mono-, di-, tri- poly-). Monosaccharides * single sugars (one molecule) * simplest Disaccharides * double sugars * combination of two monosaccharides Polysaccharides * polymers composed of several sugars * can be same monomer (many of same monosaccharide) or mixture of monomers Proteins Proteins are polymers composed of monomers called amino acids. Each amino acid contains contain a… * base amino group ( -NH2) * acidic carboxyl group ( -COOH) * hydrogen atom …all attached to same carbon atom (the α–carbon or alpha carbon). A fourth bond attaches α-carbon to a side group that varies among different amino acids. These side groups are important, as they affect the way a protein’s amino acids interact with one another, and how a protein interacts with other molecules. Although there are hundreds of different amino acids, most organisms use only 21 to build proteins. Peptide bonds are the covalent bonds which link amino acids together into chains, like the beads on a necklace. A dipeptide is 2 amino acids linked together, a polypeptide, more than two. Lipids Lipids are molecules that are hydrophobic, not attracted to water because the non-polar covalent bonds linking carbon and hydrogen aren’t attracted to the polar bonds of water. The four major groups of lipids include fats, phospholipids, waxes and steroids. Fats Fats and oils are made from two kinds of molecules: * glycerol (a type of alcohol) * three fatty acids (so known as triglycerides) Phospholipids The structure of this type of lipid includes a hydrophobic, “water hating,†hydrocarbon tails and hydrophilic, water loving phosphate groups on the end. This means that phospholipids are soluble in both water and oil. Our cell membranes are made mostly of phospholipids arranged in a double layer with the tails from both layers facing inward and the heads facing outward (lipid bilayer). Waxes Waxes are esters of alcohol which are insoluble in water and difficult to break down. Wax forms protective and waterproof layers on some plants, bacteria, animal fur and integuments of insects. Steroids The central core of a cholesterol molecule, consisting of four fused rings, is shared by all steroids. Cholesterol is precursor to our sex hormones and Vitamin D. Our cell membranes contain a lot of cholesterol which helps to keep the membrane flexible and fluid even when our cells are exposed to cooler temperatures. Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are polymers made up of nucleotide monomers. Nucleotides Each monomer of nucleic acid is a nucleotide and consists of 3 portions: * a pentose sugar * one or more phosphate groups * one of five cyclic nitrogenous bases Nucleic Acid Structure Nucleotides linked by covalent bonds between phosphate of one nucleotide and sugar of next, forming a phosphate-sugar backbone. The nitrogenous bases extend from it like teeth of a comb. Hydrogen bonds form between specific bases of two nucleic acid chains, forming a stable, double-stranded DNA molecule. Hydrogen bonding twists the phosphate-deoxyribose backbones into a helix, thus typical DNA is a double helix. ATP: The energy transfer molecule Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is a multifunctional nucleotide, most important as the "molecular currency" of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism. What are Inorganic Molecules? o Ammonia o Baking Soda o Carbon Dioxide o Carbon Monoxide o Ozone o Sulphuric Acid o Water All molecules that do not contain carbon are called inorganic molecules. There are a few carbon-containing molecules, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, that are also classified as inorganic molecules. Inorganic compounds, such as water, are made up of inorganic molecules. Ammonia is used in many household cleaners and disinfectants. A molecule of ammonia consists of three hydrogen atoms bonded to one nitrogen atom. It has a strong, unpleasant scent. Ammonia is an important chemical in industry. Baking soda, a white powder, is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate. It has many commercial uses. Baking soda is used in baking (as a yeast substitute) because it helps foods such as bread and muffins to rise. It is also used in antacids (it has the ability to neutralize acids) and can be used as a fire extinguisher. Carbon dioxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. This gas, which makes up less than 1% of the atmosphere, is used by all trees and plants to make food to live. When anything is burned or combusted, carbon dioxide is one of the products. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when organic matter, such as fossil fuels, is burned in an insufficient amount of oxygen. It is usually one of the gases found in car exhaust. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to one oxygen atom. Carbon monoxide is a colourless gas that is poisonous to animals and humans. New technology is being developed to decrease the amount of carbon monoxide produced by burning fossil fuels. Oxygen in the atmosphere is also known as diatomic oxygen; oxygen actually exists as two atoms bonded together. Diatomic oxygen is stable. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms bonded together, which makes it highly unstable and very reactive. The ozone layer absorbs the harmful UV rays from the sun so that they do not reach the earth. Ozone is broken down to diatomic oxygen and a free oxygen atom when highly reactive chemicals, such as CFCs, are present in the atmosphere. Sulphuric acid is a strong acid that is industrially used to refine petroleum and to produce explosives and fertilizers. Sulphuric acid also contributes to the problem of acid rain. When sulphur dioxide, a waste gas of various industries, is released into the air, it combines with water in the air to form sulphuric acid. This is chemically altered to acid rain. By reducing the amount of sulphur dioxide released into the air, the impact of acid rain can be lessened. water - 2 H atoms and 1 O atom - hydrogen bonds:electrostatic attraction between slightly +ve H and slightly -ve O - cohesive/adhesive forces - most abundant chemical compound in the world - humans are 70% water, fruits and vegetables..., surface area of water vs. continents Water chemistry What is water and what are its general properties? Water cycle What is the water cycle and how does water flow through it? Water quantity How much water is there on earth in different levels? Water quality Which factors determine water quality and how is it assessed? Water pollution Which compounds pollute water and where do they come from? Water purification How can polluted water be treated? Drinking water How is drinking water prepared and what does it consist of? Water usage What purposes do we use water for? Water & health Which general health problems can be caused by water? Water energy Does water contain energy and what can we do with it? Water ecology Which aquatic life zones are there and which species live in the water? Water microbiology What are microorganisms and what are the benefits and drawbacks of their presence in water? Water Softener Frequently Asked Questions on hard water and water softening What Is Fiber? Fiber is a virtually indigestible substance that is found mainly in the outer layers of plants. Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate that passes through the human digestive system virtually unchanged, without being broken down into nutrients. Carbohydrates constitute the main source of energy for all body functions. Almost everyone hears about the need for enough fiber in the diet. But few people understand the importance of dietary fiber - or where to get it. Fiber is important because it has an influence on the digestion process from start to finish: * Because it demands that food be more thoroughly chewed, fiber slows down the eating process and helps contribute to a feeling of being full, which in turn can help prevent obesity from overeating. * Fiber makes food more satisfying, probably because the contents of the stomach are bulkier and stay there longer. * Fiber slows digestion and absorption so that glucose (sugar) in food enters the bloodstream more slowly, which keeps blood sugar on a more even level. * Fiber is broken down in the colon The main part of the large intestine, responsible for absorbing water and salts from the digested products of the small intestine, and passing the digested products into the rectum for removal from the body. (the main part of the large intestine) by bacteria (a process called fermentation), and the simple organic acids produced by this breakdown helps to nourish the lining of the colon. * These acids also provide fuel for the rest of the body, especially the liver, and may have an important role in metabolism. Substantial amounts of fiber can be found in foods such as: * All-natural cereals * Whole-grain breads * Beans * Fruits * Vegetables * Nuts Nice To Know: Only plants produce fiber. No matter how chewy or "tough" animal products may be, they do not contain fiber - not even bones or eggshells. There are two main types of fiber, and they have different effects on the body: * Insoluble fiber This type of fiber is mainly made up of plant cell walls, and it cannot be dissolved in water. is mainly made up of plant cell walls, and it cannot be dissolved in water. It has a good laxative action. * Soluble fiber This type of fiber is made up of polysaccharides (carbohydrates that contain three or more molecules of simple carbohydrates), and it does dissolve in water. is made up of polysaccharides (carbohydrates that contain three or more molecules of simple carbohydrates), and it does dissolve in water. It has a beneficial effect on body chemistry, such as lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Nice To Know: Dietary fiber is essentially the cell walls of plants. Cell walls provide the architecture or skeleton of a plant and serve several purposes: * They enclose and package the nutritious parts of the plant, especially the storage organs that are rich in starch, and the parts of the cells that contain sugars, vitamins, and minerals. * They provide a tough protective armor around the embryo of the future plant. A chemical reaction is usually defined by chemical change which occurs. Four common chemical reactions include: 1. Single Replacement Reactions (a type of oxidation-reduction reactions) 2. Double replacement reactions (metathesis reactions) 3. Acid-base reactions 4. Synthesis Reactions Single Replacement Reactions In a single replacement reaction, electrons are transferred from one chemical species to another. The transfer of electrons results in a change in the nature and the charge of the species. The single replacement reaction is a form of an oxidation-reduction reaction. A real-world example of a single replacement reaction is the formation of rust on cars. In its simplest form, iron (Fe) in the car's metal body can oxidize forming iron oxide (Fe2O3), also known as rust. Chemically, the iron reacts with water and oxygen to form hydrated iron oxide. To learn more about oxidation-reduction reactions, click here. Double Replacement Reactions Whether an ionic compound dissolves in water is determined by its solubility. Therefore, we use the solubility rules to decide if a solid will become a solution when mixed with water. The general solubility rules for common salts are as follows: A reaction in which the chemical reactants exchange ions but do not change oxidation state is called a double replacement reaction. This type of reaction is characterized by the formation of a solid precipitate. (see the solubility rules above) For example, the reaction of aqueous silver nitrate (soluble) with aqueous sodium chloride forms solid silver chloride and aqueous sodium nitrate. Acid-Base Reactions 1. An acid is any compound which can donate a proton. 2. A base is any compound which can accept a proton. In an acid-base reaction, an acid and a base will react to form a salt and water. During the reaction, a proton is donated by the acid to the base to yield water. The remaining ions form a salt. Here, hydrochloric acid (a proton donor) reacts with sodium hydroxide (a proton acceptor) to form sodium chloride (a salt) and water. Synthesis Reactions A synthesis reaction is a chemical reaction in which a certain product is sought. For instance, one may mix salicylic acid with acetic anhydride to make aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid). The desired product here is aspirin. Though all of the above reactions are a form of a synthesis reactions, they are not usually performed because of the products formed. Organic Substance, a substance that contains carbon combined chemically with at least one other chemical element. Substances lacking carbon are called inorganic substances. What Are Organic Molecules? Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids What is the difference between an organic and an inorganic molecule? What substances are within the realm of organic chemistry? Organic molecules are the chemicals of life, compounds composed of more than one type of element, that are found in, and produced by, living organisms. The feature that distinguishes an organic from inorganic molecule is that organic contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, whereas inorganic molecules do not. The four major classes of organic molecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates The term carbohydrates is actually a descriptor of what these molecules are composed of; “carbon hydrates,†in a ratio of one carbon molecule to one water molecule (CH2O)n. The word saccharide is a handy synonym for carbohydrate, because it can be preceded with a prefix that indicates the size of the molecule (mono-, di-, tri- poly-). Monosaccharides * single sugars (one molecule) * simplest Disaccharides * double sugars * combination of two monosaccharides Polysaccharides * polymers composed of several sugars * can be same monomer (many of same monosaccharide) or mixture of monomers Proteins Proteins are polymers composed of monomers called amino acids. Each amino acid contains contain a… * base amino group ( -NH2) * acidic carboxyl group ( -COOH) * hydrogen atom …all attached to same carbon atom (the α–carbon or alpha carbon). A fourth bond attaches α-carbon to a side group that varies among different amino acids. These side groups are important, as they affect the way a protein’s amino acids interact with one another, and how a protein interacts with other molecules. Although there are hundreds of different amino acids, most organisms use only 21 to build proteins. Peptide bonds are the covalent bonds which link amino acids together into chains, like the beads on a necklace. A dipeptide is 2 amino acids linked together, a polypeptide, more than two. Lipids Lipids are molecules that are hydrophobic, not attracted to water because the non-polar covalent bonds linking carbon and hydrogen aren’t attracted to the polar bonds of water. The four major groups of lipids include fats, phospholipids, waxes and steroids. Fats Fats and oils are made from two kinds of molecules: * glycerol (a type of alcohol) * three fatty acids (so known as triglycerides) Phospholipids The structure of this type of lipid includes a hydrophobic, “water hating,†hydrocarbon tails and hydrophilic, water loving phosphate groups on the end. This means that phospholipids are soluble in both water and oil. Our cell membranes are made mostly of phospholipids arranged in a double layer with the tails from both layers facing inward and the heads facing outward (lipid bilayer). Waxes Waxes are esters of alcohol which are insoluble in water and difficult to break down. Wax forms protective and waterproof layers on some plants, bacteria, animal fur and integuments of insects. Steroids The central core of a cholesterol molecule, consisting of four fused rings, is shared by all steroids. Cholesterol is precursor to our sex hormones and Vitamin D. Our cell membranes contain a lot of cholesterol which helps to keep the membrane flexible and fluid even when our cells are exposed to cooler temperatures. Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are polymers made up of nucleotide monomers. Nucleotides Each monomer of nucleic acid is a nucleotide and consists of 3 portions: * a pentose sugar * one or more phosphate groups * one of five cyclic nitrogenous bases Nucleic Acid Structure Nucleotides linked by covalent bonds between phosphate of one nucleotide and sugar of next, forming a phosphate-sugar backbone. The nitrogenous bases extend from it like teeth of a comb. Hydrogen bonds form between specific bases of two nucleic acid chains, forming a stable, double-stranded DNA molecule. Hydrogen bonding twists the phosphate-deoxyribose backbones into a helix, thus typical DNA is a double helix. ATP: The energy transfer molecule Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is a multifunctional nucleotide, most important as the "molecular currency" of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism. What are Inorganic Molecules? o Ammonia o Baking Soda o Carbon Dioxide o Carbon Monoxide o Ozone o Sulphuric Acid o Water All molecules that do not contain carbon are called inorganic molecules. There are a few carbon-containing molecules, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, that are also classified as inorganic molecules. Inorganic compounds, such as water, are made up of inorganic molecules. Ammonia is used in many household cleaners and disinfectants. A molecule of ammonia consists of three hydrogen atoms bonded to one nitrogen atom. It has a strong, unpleasant scent. Ammonia is an important chemical in industry. Baking soda, a white powder, is chemically known as sodium bicarbonate. It has many commercial uses. Baking soda is used in baking (as a yeast substitute) because it helps foods such as bread and muffins to rise. It is also used in antacids (it has the ability to neutralize acids) and can be used as a fire extinguisher. Carbon dioxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. This gas, which makes up less than 1% of the atmosphere, is used by all trees and plants to make food to live. When anything is burned or combusted, carbon dioxide is one of the products. Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when organic matter, such as fossil fuels, is burned in an insufficient amount of oxygen. It is usually one of the gases found in car exhaust. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom bonded to one oxygen atom. Carbon monoxide is a colourless gas that is poisonous to animals and humans. New technology is being developed to decrease the amount of carbon monoxide produced by burning fossil fuels. Oxygen in the atmosphere is also known as diatomic oxygen; oxygen actually exists as two atoms bonded together. Diatomic oxygen is stable. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms bonded together, which makes it highly unstable and very reactive. The ozone layer absorbs the harmful UV rays from the sun so that they do not reach the earth. Ozone is broken down to diatomic oxygen and a free oxygen atom when highly reactive chemicals, such as CFCs, are present in the atmosphere. Sulphuric acid is a strong acid that is industrially used to refine petroleum and to produce explosives and fertilizers. Sulphuric acid also contributes to the problem of acid rain. When sulphur dioxide, a waste gas of various industries, is released into the air, it combines with water in the air to form sulphuric acid. This is chemically altered to acid rain. By reducing the amount of sulphur dioxide released into the air, the impact of acid rain can be lessened. water - 2 H atoms and 1 O atom - hydrogen bonds:electrostatic attraction between slightly +ve H and slightly -ve O - cohesive/adhesive forces - most abundant chemical compound in the world - humans are 70% water, fruits and vegetables..., surface area of water vs. continents Water chemistry What is water and what are its general properties? Water cycle What is the water cycle and how does water flow through it? Water quantity How much water is there on earth in different levels? Water quality Which factors determine water quality and how is it assessed? Water pollution Which compounds pollute water and where do they come from? Water purification How can polluted water be treated? Drinking water How is drinking water prepared and what does it consist of? Water usage What purposes do we use water for? Water & health Which general health problems can be caused by water? Water energy Does water contain energy and what can we do with it? Water ecology Which aquatic life zones are there and which species live in the water? Water microbiology What are microorganisms and what are the benefits and drawbacks of their presence in water? Water Softener Frequently Asked Questions on hard water and water softening What Is Fiber? Fiber is a virtually indigestible substance that is found mainly in the outer layers of plants. Fiber is a special type of carbohydrate that passes through the human digestive system virtually unchanged, without being broken down into nutrients. Carbohydrates constitute the main source of energy for all body functions. Almost everyone hears about the need for enough fiber in the diet. But few people understand the importance of dietary fiber - or where to get it. Fiber is important because it has an influence on the digestion process from start to finish: * Because it demands that food be more thoroughly chewed, fiber slows down the eating process and helps contribute to a feeling of being full, which in turn can help prevent obesity from overeating. * Fiber makes food more satisfying, probably because the contents of the stomach are bulkier and stay there longer. * Fiber slows digestion and absorption so that glucose (sugar) in food enters the bloodstream more slowly, which keeps blood sugar on a more even level. * Fiber is broken down in the colon The main part of the large intestine, responsible for absorbing water and salts from the digested products of the small intestine, and passing the digested products into the rectum for removal from the body. (the main part of the large intestine) by bacteria (a process called fermentation), and the simple organic acids produced by this breakdown helps to nourish the lining of the colon. * These acids also provide fuel for the rest of the body, especially the liver, and may have an important role in metabolism. Substantial amounts of fiber can be found in foods such as: * All-natural cereals * Whole-grain breads * Beans * Fruits * Vegetables * Nuts Nice To Know: Only plants produce fiber. No matter how chewy or "tough" animal products may be, they do not contain fiber - not even bones or eggshells. There are two main types of fiber, and they have different effects on the body: * Insoluble fiber This type of fiber is mainly made up of plant cell walls, and it cannot be dissolved in water. is mainly made up of plant cell walls, and it cannot be dissolved in water. It has a good laxative action. * Soluble fiber This type of fiber is made up of polysaccharides (carbohydrates that contain three or more molecules of simple carbohydrates), and it does dissolve in water. is made up of polysaccharides (carbohydrates that contain three or more molecules of simple carbohydrates), and it does dissolve in water. It has a beneficial effect on body chemistry, such as lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Nice To Know: Dietary fiber is essentially the cell walls of plants. Cell walls provide the architecture or skeleton of a plant and serve several purposes: * They enclose and package the nutritious parts of the plant, especially the storage organs that are rich in starch, and the parts of the cells that contain sugars, vitamins, and minerals. * They provide a tough protective armor around the embryo of the future plant. Q. What is a biomedical engineer and what does he or she do? See the Answer Hear the Answer A. “It's a tremendous opportunity to bring the field of engineering into medicine. For instance, to help burn survivors gain full function and use of their face through the use of burn masks, to help construction workers remain safe with a fall protection harness, to offer roll-over protection to farmers in their tractors, and to protect firefighters by making their gear fit well, thus preventing injury.†Q. What's an example of a current biomedical engineering problem you are addressing in your work? A. “Today there are more and more women that are going into firefighting, and as a result we're finding they are not fitting into the standard-sized firefighting equipment and clothing safely: boots are too big, gloves are too loose, ladder rungs are too far apart.†Q. What are sustainable buildings? See the Answer Hear the Answer A. “Sustainable buildings are a necessary part of a functioning society. They reduce the use of energy, water, and provide a healthier environment. They are buildings we can operate without excessive use of fossil fuels. They make renewable energy more feasible.†Q. Why did you become a sustainability design engineer? A. “I became a "green" design engineer because I'm interested in the way the world works and interacts, and how things operate. I'm interested in systems. And I'm also interested in doing them right!†Q. What does it take to succeed in engineering? A. “What it takes to succeed in engineering is to be disciplined and to always strive to get the best answer and solve the problem in the best way possible. I've found that the right answer isn't always intuitive. You really have to look at things from many different directions. To solve problems and to value others' input to solve those problems is what will really help you be successful†Q. What excites you about the product development aspect of chemical engineering? A. “What I find exciting is being able to take my family to the store and pull the product that I've designed off the shelf and show it to them. You see the hard work and decisions you've made right on the shelf. For me, it's a lot of fun to bring that product home and feed it to my dog.†Q. Does a robotics engineer build the whole robot? A. “Robotics is a very cross-functional industry. It takes a lot of different engineering disciplines to put a robot system together. There is a mechanical component that requires a mechanical engineer, a computer controls component that requires a software engineer, and an electrical component that requires an electrical engineer. All of these must come together for a robot system to be successful.†Q. What does a civil engineer do? A. “Civil engineers can be involved with a variety of projects. Civil engineers get involved with the construction of dams, roads, bridges, buildings, and large environmental projects.†Q. What do chemical engineers and materials research engineers do? A. “I’m both, so sometimes I’m in the lab working with resins, mixing and actually processing them to make a composite material. Sometimes I’m in the office working with customers and contractors finding out what they need in a material and we try to solve that problem. Sometimes, I’m working at a computer. Sometimes I have lots of data to figure out and calculate.†Q. What type of personality is good for an engineering job? A. “All types of personalities are good for engineering. We need people who are disciplined, focused and have a method to their actions. We also need people who are a little off center and can look at things different perspectives.†Q. What does a systems engineer do? A. “We draw from many fields of engineering to integrate different technologies to develop new gee whiz products that no one’s thought of, in order to solve problems.†Q. What are some of the secrets to becoming successful in this career? A. “You have to be a logical thinker. You need to be able to work though a problem in some systematic fashion. You’re going to have to work with others to be successful. And, you must have perseverance. Despite your teamwork and logic, it’s not going to work right the first time. You’re going to have to overcome obstacles to be successful.†Q. What skills are most important for engineering? A. “The two most important skills are people skills to get others to help you do what you need to do and analytical skills to understand what needs to be done.†Q. As a civil engineer, what motivated you when you were a student? A. “I was motivated by a strong work ethic and the desire to make a difference. I wanted to accomplish something. As a civil engineer, I’ve done that by constructing buildings for the good of the community.†Q. What high school classes prepared you to become an engineer? A. “Physics, trigonometry, geometry, algebra, algebra 2 and the hard sciences.†Q. What college classes prepared you to become an engineer? A. “They included linear algebra, statistics and writing.†Q. What do you see is your job as a biomechanical engineer? A. “My role is to learn as much as I can about the human body and physiology and how our products can best meet our customers’ needs.†Q. What science and math do civil engineers rely upon? A. “Science helps us analyze a problem in a specific way and come up with a way of getting to a solution. Everyday we use geometry and trigonometry to figure out how to make things fit together and how to make them work.†Q. What math principles do robotics engineers rely upon? A. “The mathematical background for robotics is linear algebra and geometry. It is solving problems using matrices to effect a motion in space. So, to do this we go from linear algebra ultimately to geometry.†Q. Is college absolutely necessary for a job in robotics? A. “A college degree isn’t necessary to work in the robotics field. But if you want to be working on the design of robots or robot systems, then you will need an engineering degree from a college.†Q. Are extracurricular activities valuable to the budding engineering student? A. “I recommend to any student to get involved in extracurricular activities, like in my case athletics. You’ll learn teamwork, discipline and time management.†Q. What's exciting about engineering? A. “There are a lot of things that excite me about engineering. I get excited working with state-of-the-art equipment. It’s exciting to be creative and inventive, knowing that maybe something I work on will eventually be on an aircraft or solve a problem. That’s what gets me excited about engineering.†Q. Does a robotics engineer do the same thing every day or does it vary? A. “I love robots! Robots are a lot of fun. Everyday I enjoy coming to work because robots are always new. We’re always taking this robotic arm and doing some new function with it. So, I get to see how other people apply robot technology and that’s different every single day.†Q. What do you like best about your job as a chemical and materials research engineer? A. “It’s great working here where we’re surrounded by cutting edge technology, experts in the field, and new innovative materials.†Q. Were you always a good math student? A. “There was a time I didn’t do well in math and science. But there was a turning point. A teacher talked to us about the uses of geometry. I realized there’s more to math than just classes. There are things I can do with math beyond high school.†Q. What are the biggest challenges in your job as a civil engineer? A. “One of the challenges is not just figuring out what you have to do, but scheduling that and getting it all together. In a building, you’ll have hundreds of thousands of different pieces of material and equipment that have to come in on a timely basis in order to be installed without holding up the installation of other pieces. Scheduling all that stuff is really one of the biggest challenges we face in construction.†Q. What advice would you give middle school and high school students about engineering? A. “I think one of the things that makes you successful that you can prepare for at this time in high school is your basic math and science skills. But other things are as important as having the analytical knowledge base – and these things are working with people and being creative to solve challenges.†Q. Is engineering, especially robotics engineering, a competitive field? A. “Work hard because engineering is a very competitive field! There are many applicants that want to work in engineering, especially robotics. So, if you want to work in the engineering field, especially robotics, you have to exert yourself!†Q. Do you use technology in your job? A. “We use technology in our jobs everyday in robotics and engineering. You’re going to use computers and will need to be able to work with spreadsheets, design packages, and the internet. Yes, technology is an everyday occurrence.†Q. Is teamwork important in your job? A. “The days of the solitary engineer solving all of the problem by him or herself is over. We’ve become so specialized and there is so much to know, that it’s going to take several individuals to be able to solve an engineering problem. So, teamwork is crucial if you want to be able to work in an engineering field.†Q. Is there stress in your job? A. “Any automation field is stressful. You have high demands placed upon you. Systems are expected to be up and running on deadline and operating as specified. So, to be able to put all that together in a timely fashion does bring with it a certain amount of stress. But, we love it!†What is Chemical Engineering? There are numerous definitions of Chemical Engineering, but the one on Wikipedia serves very well: “Chemical engineering i A. “I was motivated by a strong work ethic and the desire to make a difference. I wanted to accomplish something. As a civil engineer, I’ve done that by constructing buildings for the good of the community.†Q. What high school classes prepared you to become an engineer? A. “Physics, trigonometry, geometry, algebra, algebra 2 and the hard sciences.†Q. What college classes prepared you to become an engineer? A. “They included linear algebra, statistics and writing.†Q. What do you see is your job as a biomechanical engineer? A. “My role is to learn as much as I can about the human body and physiology and how our products can best meet our customers’ needs.†Q. What science and math do civil engineers rely upon? A. “Science helps us analyze a problem in a specific way and come up with a way of getting to a solution. Everyday we use geometry and trigonometry to figure out how to make things fit together and how to make them work.†Q. What math principles do robotics engineers rely upon? A. “The mathematical background for robotics is linear algebra and geometry. It is solving problems using matrices to effect a motion in space. So, to do this we go from linear algebra ultimately to geometry.†Q. Is college absolutely necessary for a job in robotics? A. “A college degree isn’t necessary to work in the robotics field. But if you want to be working on the design of robots or robot systems, then you will need an engineering degree from a college.†Q. Are extracurricular activities valuable to the budding engineering student? A. “I recommend to any student to get involved in extracurricular activities, like in my case athletics. You’ll learn teamwork, discipline and time management.†Q. What's exciting about engineering? s the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g. chemistry and physics), and life sciences (e.g. biology, microbiology and biochemistry) with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. In addition to producing useful materials, modern chemical engineering is also concerned with pioneering valuable new materials and techniques - such as nanotechnology, fuel cells and biomedical engineering. |