Chemist Facts & Worksheets

A chemist is someone who mainly researches chemical substances, performs experiments, and studies the relationships between chemical substances.

See the fact file below for more information on Chemists or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Chemist worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BRIEF OVERVIEW

• Most of the time, chemists work as part of a larger group of researchers that generally studies chemical substances with the aim to create compounds that can be used for practical applications.
• Most chemists work with simple forms of matter so that (1) they can reach a better understanding of the chemical itself, (2) discover elements of unfamiliar substances, and (3) create new compounds.
• Typically, a chemist specializes in one of the sub-disciplines of chemistry, with the common ones namely biochemistry, neurochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and theoretical chemistry. 

TYPES OF CHEMISTS

• Forensic Chemist – A forensic chemist usually analyzes physical evidence and samples to gain clues in order to solve crimes.
• Nuclear Chemist – A nuclear chemist typically deals with nuclear reactions or reactions that happen or involve atoms. 
• Geochemist – A geochemist usually studies the composition, structure, processes, and other physical attributes of the Earth.
• Water Chemist – A water chemist is generally concerned with the analysis and maintenance of the quality and condition of water.
• Computational Chemist – A computational chemist usually uses advanced computing technologies to solve problems and to
  create simulations that generally require the processing of massive amounts of data.
• Process Chemist – A process chemist, usually, is the one that takes compounds that were discovered by research chemists and then turns them into commercial products.
• Petrochemist – A petrochemist focuses on the study of chemicals and their reactions within petroleum and natural gases. They usually focus their studies on how to make fuels more efficient and environmentally friendly.

WORKPLACE

• Typically, a chemist works indoors in laboratories or inside controlled environments which are conducive to research. 
• Chemists also usually work with different types of research or scientific equipment such as spectrometers and chromatographs.

EMPLOYMENT

• Most of the time, a chemist is employed by academic institutions which allow them to perform research, be a faculty member, or both. 
• Chemists can also land jobs in the government such as being part of federal agencies like the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). 
• A chemist can also be part of the industry as someone that is part of the team that deals with the development and manufacturing of products. 
• Lastly, a chemist can also be part of scientific non-profit organizations which do research for the common good of society.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

• A chemist may also join professional societies which are made specifically for professionals and researchers within the field of Chemistry.
• The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a professional society based in the United Kingdom with the main goal of “advancing the chemical sciences.” This society was formed in 1980 as a result of the union of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society, and the Society for Analytical Chemistry. 
• Another professional society is the American Chemical Society (ACS) which is based in the United States. This was founded in 1876 at New York University and is currently considered one of the largest scientific societies by membership in the world.

FAMOUS CHEMISTS

• Amedeo Avogadro is most famously known for his law that under the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of gasses contain an equal number of molecules, and this is now known as Avogadro’s Law. 
• Niels Bohr is known for his Bohr model of the atom wherein according to his model, the energy levels of electrons are discrete, and the electrons revolve around the atomic nucleus in stable orbits. However, these electrons can move from one orbit to another. 
• Marie Curie is known for her pioneering research about radioactivity and also for discovering two chemical elements, radium, and polonium. She is also known for being the only person to ever receive the Nobel Prize award for both chemistry and physics. In addition, she also led the world’s first studies regarding the treatment of neoplasms using radioactive isotopes.
• Michael Faraday is notably a famous scientist. In the field of chemistry, some of Faraday’s contributions include the discovery of benzene, the investigation of the clathrate hydrate of chlorine, and the creation of the system of oxidation numbers. 
• Antoine Lavoisier, known to be the father of Modern Chemistry, is notably most recognized for his discovery of the role of oxygen when it comes to combustion.
• Dmitri Mendeleev is best known to be the one who formulated the Periodic Law and to be the one who created the farsighted version of the periodic table of elements. 
• Ernest Rutherford received his Nobel Prize in Chemistry based on his discovery of the concept of radioactive half-life and of the radioactive element called radon.
• Harold Urey was an American physical chemist who discovered the deuterium. 

LABORATORY TOOLS

• Most of the time, chemists are working inside laboratories. Below are some of the laboratory tools that chemists use, including their uses.
• Goggles / Safety Glasses – Goggles protect one’s eyes from irritation that may result due to the chemicals being studied or being used during an experiment. 
• Latex Gloves – Latex gloves are important to prevent harmful chemicals from direct contact with one’s skin.
• Beakers – Beakers are made up of borosilicate glass with a flat bottom and with the upper part having a rim around it along with a spout which helps in the proper pouring of solutions/chemicals during an experiment. 
• Boiling Flask or Florence Flask – This type of flask has a round bottom with a long neck which is generally used to hold solutions that can be
  heated using proper swirling motions for mixing.  Test Tubes – Test tubes are very common in laboratories. These are usually cylindrical-shaped pipes with a circular opening on one side and a rounded bottom. Test tubes are usually used to mix, store, and hold solutions. Test tubes usually come in different sizes. 
• Crucibles – Crucibles are used to store substances that need to be heated at high temperatures, and these are generally made up of porcelain to withstand heat.
• Bunsen Burner – This equipment is used for heating and sterilization purposes. 
• Graduated Cylinders – Graduated cylinders generally function as a measuring tool for liquids. This has several markings up and down
  the length of the cylinder.

HOW TO BE A CHEMIST?

• To become a chemist, the minimum education requirement is a college degree such as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in chemistry. 
• Most chemists have master’s or doctoral degrees in chemistry. These advanced degrees are usually important when someone is taking the path related to research or academia. 
• On the other hand, you can also become a chemist with degrees related to chemistry or field such as chemical engineering, environmental science, or materials science.
• Other important college courses that would be helpful in becoming a chemist include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus. 

CHEMISTRY TERMS

• The quantitative measure of the acidity or basicity of a substance is
  called pH. If a substance has a pH higher than 7 then it is a base, but
  if the pH is lower than 7 then it is an acid.

Chemist Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Chemists across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Chemists who mainly research chemical substances, perform experiments, and study the relationships between chemical substances.

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Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Chemist Facts
• I Know
• Fill the Table
• One Two Three
• C vs P
• Word Hunt
• How About You?
• Pick One
• Mix N Match
• Acid or Base?
• Good Job!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of chemists?

Forensic Chemist – A forensic chemist usually analyzes physical evidence and samples to gain clues in order to solve crimes. Nuclear Chemist – A nuclear chemist typically deals with nuclear reactions or reactions that happen or involve atoms. Geochemist – A geochemist usually studies the composition, structure, processes, and other physical attributes of the Earth. Water Chemist – A water chemist is generally concerned with the analysis and maintenance of the quality and condition of water. Computational Chemist – A computational chemist usually uses advanced computing technologies to solve problems and to create simulations that generally require the processing of massive amounts of data. Process Chemist – A process chemist, usually, is the one that takes compounds that were discovered by research chemists and then turns them into commercial products. Petrochemist – A petrochemist focuses on the study of chemicals and their reactions within petroleum and natural gases. They usually focus their studies on how to make fuels more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Who are the most famous chemists in history?

Amedeo Avogadro is most famously known for his law that under the same temperature and pressure, equal volumes of gasses contain an equal number of molecules, and this is now known as Avogadro’s Law. Niels Bohr is known for his Bohr model of the atom wherein according to his model, the energy levels of electrons are discrete, and the electrons revolve around the atomic nucleus in stable orbits. However, these electrons can move from one orbit to another. Marie Curie is known for her pioneering research about radioactivity and also for discovering two chemical elements, radium, and polonium. She is also known for being the only person to ever receive the Nobel Prize award for both chemistry and physics. In addition, she also led the world’s first studies regarding the treatment of neoplasms using radioactive isotopes.

How do you become a chemist?

To become a chemist, the minimum education requirement is a college degree such as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in chemistry. Most chemists have master’s or doctoral degrees in chemistry. These advanced degrees are usually important when someone is taking the path related to research or academia. On the other hand, you can also become a chemist with degrees related to chemistry or field such as chemical engineering, environmental science, or materials science. Other important college courses that would be helpful in becoming a chemist include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus.

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