Chemistry Jobs

There are at least seven different types of chemists, each of whom focus on a unique are of the world of chemistry. For example, you could become an analytical chemist, if you are keen to study the composition and properties of matter, and to develop methods to analyse samples; an organic chemist, if you are keen to study carbon-based molecules, i.e. those found in living organisms, and to use this knowledge to design and synthesise new compounds for use in e.g. materials science and pharmaceuticals; an inorganic chemist, if you wish to study elements and their compounds, for application in catalysis, energy storage, and materials science; a physical chemist, if you deem it vital to study the fundamental properties of matter and how chemical reactions occur; a biochemist, in order to study the chemical processes that occur within living organisms, across the structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules, and to use this knowledge to develop new drugs and therapies; a materials chemist, so as to study the synthesis and properties of materials, like polymers, metals, and ceramics, for use in materials such as electronics, energy storage units, and medicine; and finally, an environmental chemist, if you’re keen to develop strategies to reduce pollution and preserve the Earth’s natural resources, after studying the effects of chemicals on the environment all around us.

Ideally, someone wanting to pursue a career in chemistry in South Africa, will need to have done very well in their primary and secondary schooling, in order to then apply for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, with a major in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Chemical Engineering. Consider a diploma thereafter, in an area such as analytical chemistry, and don’t stop until you’ve achieved an MSc or a PhD if you wish to take on a highly specialised or research-intensive future role.

The BachelorsPortal is a great domain on which to view all 26 of the chemistry bachelors it is possible to apply for locally.

It sure is. Capital Resin, a privately owned custom chemical producer, says that “there isn’t a single aspect of modern life that chemistry doesn’t touch…, whether it’s the phone in your pocket, the shoes you’re wearing, or the meal you just ate. Chemistry is an enormous scientific field with millions of practical applications.”

Watch this video clip from Study.com, if you wish to find out more.

the estimated average pay for a chemist in South Africa is R30 500 per month (R366 000 per annum). Once you’ve worked your way up this industry, and dependant on your employer, you could stand to earn as much as R360 000 per month (or R4 320 000 per annum), which is why specialising and keeping your eyes on the chemistry jobs on offer is always a good idea.

The big four grandparents of chemistry as we know it are generally considered to be:

• Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794), who the law of conservation of mass. It states that while substances may change their state or form, they retain the same mass;
• John Dalton (1766-1844), who is remembered for proposing his atomic theory – which suggested that every substance is made of atoms and that the atoms of each element are identical;
• Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856), whose great discovery – Avogadro’s Law – states that, under the same temperature and pressure conditions, the same volumes of different gases will have the same number of molecules;
  and
  • Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848), who formalised the language of chemistry by inventing the system of notation by which we refer to different elements. He, for example, came up with the fundamental terms in physical chemistry, such as catalysis, polymer, and what we now call ionic bonding, and discovered a number of the elements himself i.e. cerium, thorium, and selenium.

Read more, here.