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title: "Chemist"
chunk: 3/3
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemist"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:47:22.162309+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

=== Subdisciplines ===
Chemistry is typically organised into several major subdisciplines — including organic, inorganic, physical, analytical, and biochemistry — and encompasses numerous specialised and interdisciplinary fields. Many of these areas overlap with one another and with related sciences, and chemical research often intersects with disciplines such as biology, medicine, physics, materials science, and engineering.

Analytical chemistry is the analysis of material samples to gain an understanding of their chemical composition and structure. Analytical chemistry incorporates standardized experimental methods in chemistry. These methods may be used in all subdisciplines of chemistry, excluding purely theoretical chemistry.
Biochemistry is the study of the chemicals, chemical reactions and chemical interactions that take place in living organisms. Biochemistry and organic chemistry are closely related, for example, in medicinal chemistry.

Inorganic chemistry is the study of the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds. The distinction between organic and inorganic disciplines is not absolute and there is much overlap, most importantly in the sub-discipline of organometallic chemistry. The Inorganic chemistry is also the study of atomic and molecular structure and bonding.
Medicinal chemistry is the science involved with designing, synthesizing and developing pharmaceutical drugs. Medicinal chemistry involves the identification, synthesis and development of new chemical entities suitable for therapeutic use. It also includes the study of existing drugs, their biological properties, and their quantitative structure-activity relationships.
Organic chemistry is the study of the structure, properties, composition, mechanisms, and chemical reaction of carbon compounds.
Physical chemistry is the study of the physical fundamental basis of chemical systems and processes. In particular, the energetics and dynamics of such systems and processes are of interest to physical chemists. Important areas of study include chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, electrochemistry, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, and spectroscopy. Physical chemistry has a large overlap with theoretical chemistry and molecular physics. Physical chemistry involves the use of calculus in deriving equations.
Theoretical chemistry is the study of chemistry via theoretical reasoning (usually within mathematics or physics). In particular, the application of quantum mechanics to chemistry is called quantum chemistry. Since the end of the Second World War, the development of computers has allowed a systematic development of computational chemistry, which is the art of developing and applying computer programs for solving chemical problems. Theoretical chemistry has large overlap with condensed matter physics and molecular physics. See reductionism.
All the above major areas of chemistry employ chemists. Other fields where chemical degrees are useful include astrochemistry (and cosmochemistry), atmospheric chemistry, chemical engineering, chemo-informatics, electrochemistry, environmental science, forensic science, geochemistry, green chemistry, history of chemistry, materials science, medical science, molecular biology, molecular genetics, nanotechnology, nuclear chemistry, oenology, organometallic chemistry, petrochemistry, pharmacology, photochemistry, phytochemistry, polymer chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and surface chemistry.

== Professional societies ==
Chemists may belong to professional societies specifically for professionals and researchers within the field of chemistry, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom, the American Chemical Society (ACS) in the United States, or the Institution of Chemists in India.

== Ethics ==
The "Global Chemists' Code of Ethics" suggests several ethical principles that all chemists should follow:

Promoting the general public's appreciation of chemistry
The importance of sustainability and protecting the environment
The importance of scientific research and publications
Respecting safety, such as by using proper personal protective equipment
Respecting chemical security throughout the chemical supply chain, especially for labs and industrial facilities
This code of ethics was codified in a 2016 conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, run by the American Chemical Society. The points listed are inspired by the 2015 Hague Ethical Guidelines.

== Honors and awards ==

The highest honor awarded to chemists is the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded since 1901, by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

== See also ==
List of chemistry topics
List of chemists
List of Chemistry Societies

== References ==

== External links ==

American Chemical Society
Chemical Abstracts Service indexes and abstracts the world's chemistry-related literature and patents
Chemists and Materials Scientists Archived 2006-01-16 at the Wayback Machine from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook
Royal Society of Chemistry
History of Chemistry links for chemists
Luminaries of the Chemical Sciences accomplishments, biography, and publications from 44 of the most influential chemists
Selected Classic Papers from the History of Chemistry
Links for Chemists guide to web sites related to chemistry
ChemistryViews.org