What Is Chemical Engineering?

Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with chemical

production and the manufacture of products through chemical processes. This
includes designing equipment, systems and processes for refining raw materials
and for mixing, compounding and processing chemicals to make valuable
products. 

George E. Davis, an English engineer, is credited with founding the field of chemical
engineering in the late 19th century. He published the first truly comprehensive
overview of the practice in his two-volume "Handbook of Chemical Engineering" (Davis
Bros., 1901; revised 1904), based on a series of 12 lectures he gave at the
Manchester School of Technology (now part of the University of Manchester).
Interestingly, he never taught another course in his lifetime, opting to devote his
career to consulting. His handbook, however, would serve as the fundamental text
for chemical engineering studies for decades to come. 
What do chemical engineers do?
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics and math to
solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food
and many other products, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 
Chemical engineers work in a variety of fields, according to the BLS. For instance,
they may work at a petroleum refinery to turn crude oil into gasoline, jet fuel, diesel
fuel, lubricating oil, solvents and petrochemicals; at a fertilizer plant to produce
ammonium nitrate, or at a personal-care product manufacturer to mix dozens of
ingredients to produce shampoo or skin lotion.