When people think of what inorganic chemists do, they have a narrow vision of their career possibilities.
We believe that they all likely work for some generic pharmaceutical company or chemical plant.
But the truth is that people specializing in synthetic chemistry tend to do all sorts of jobs. So if you were wondering what career opportunities inorganic chemistry entails, this blog is for you!
We will explore what sort of professions inorganic chemists can join.
So instead of worrying about what your future holds, here is a brief list of all the sorts of careers you could have with Superprof by your side to help you learn inorganic chemistry.
Search for organic chemistry tutor here on superprof.
What Is Inorganic Chemistry In A Nutshell?
Inorganic chemistry operates in the realm of synthetic compounds. Compounds are a mixture of various elements from the periodic table.
When we say these compounds are inorganic, we mean they have no carbon in them – the presence of which would imply the compounds are, in fact, organic.
Since inorganic chemistry has a lot of components, it can be difficult to learn. Inorganic chemists are trained carefully mix and create these compounds.
These chemical mixtures are usually exact and need expert dexterity. Adjust their ingredients slightly, and it results in an altogether different end product.
Therefore, as a chemist, it will be your job to ensure these different elements are accurately mixed.
As a part of this process, you will also have to assess how these different ingredients are cooked, separated, modified, and combined to create various end products.
These chemicals form an essential backbone of our current global economy. They are used for virtually everything, creating pigments, paints, fuels, and medicines.
As a result, inorganic chemists are a highly respected profession, receiving appropriate dispensation for their labor. There are several branches of inorganic chemistry one can explore as well.
Due to this profession’s promising future, thousands of students worldwide are looking to join it.
Services like Superprof have been instrumental in helping them complete their educational requirements and secure their future.
Is Inorganic Chemistry A Good Career?
Inorganic chemists perform highly specialized tasks. Here are a few industries that would employ you, as well as what type of jobs you would have in them.
Once you understand what kind of jobs you could have as an inorganic chemist, you should get in touch with Superprof. They tutor you, so you are a qualified and capable inorganic chemist.
If you are currently studying to be a chemist, you’ll learn the key differences between inorganic vs organic chemistry. They can also help you develop a specialization in inorganic compounds.
- Industrial Chemists
Perhaps the most apparent employer of inorganic chemists is chemical manufacturers themselves.
These companies are involved in the production of all inorganic chemical compounds on a massive scale, which can be a tricky process.
They will need you to work in their plants, ensuring their products' make-up is precise because – as mentioned earlier – even the smallest difference can completely alter inorganic compounds' nature.
- Agriculture Industry
Although the agriculture industry primarily deals in organic compounds, inorganic chemists also have a role in it.
Various inorganic fertilizer manufacturers need them to help them develop new fertilizers for use, whereas you could also be a part of overseeing the quality control of pesticide makers.
- Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmaceutical companies will always rely upon chemists. The whole industry would not exist without them.
You would oversee the preparation of various synthetic compounds, ensuring their physical and chemical properties were up to standard.
Moreover, you could even be involved in developing new substances for use in medicine, determining whether they could be used to treat certain symptoms and diseases.
There is a vast range of duties you could take on in the pharmaceutical industry.
In fact, you can specialize in pharmaceutical inorganic chemistry because of the range of roles of tasks you could perform in the sector.
- Mining
All sorts of companies mining for various raw materials will require inorganic chemists.
They need them to determine the purity of metals and other products recovered from the earth, ensuring they are of the highest quality.
You might even be asked to develop new methods for recovering gold, rare earth metals, and other useful byproducts from the extracted materials.
Discover more when you take chemistry online classes taught by a professional tutor on Superprof!
- Paint Manufacturing
Most paints and dyes today rely on some inorganic compound to add pigment or as a binding agent.
So naturally, paint manufacturers need inorganic chemists to help them inspect and ensure the quality of their product and work in RnD to develop new paints.
Inorganic pigments tend to have toxic heavy metals so that you will be working with stringent safety measures in place.
- Food Products
It might not make sense why the food industry would need chemists specializing in inorganic chemicals.
But there are all sorts of safe inorganic compounds on the food items we see on our supermarket shelves.
Substances like Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Bisulfite solution are important preservatives. Ammonium Chloride is used to enhance various foods' aroma. And the list goes on.
The food industry requires inorganic chemists to inspect their products' safety by ensuring the right mix of these chemicals is added to them.
You could also be an integral part of their RnD division, creating exciting new foods.
- Forensics
Would you believe that your degree in inorganic chemistry could give you an exciting career in law enforcement? Indeed, you could play a vital role in solving crimes.
Inorganic chemists work with law enforcement agencies worldwide, helping examine gunshot residue and toxicology reports when narcotics are involved.
If you want to help your local police department fight crime from the safety of a lab, then perhaps a career in inorganic chemistry is for you.
- Microchip Manufacturing
You might have seen the news about the global microchip shortage. In fact, much of the broader supply chain disruptions we have seen this past year result from this shortage.
Various governments worldwide – including the US government – are looking to scale their domestic microchip manufacturing to prevent something like this from from happening again.
This is great news for inorganic chemists because they are needed for microchip production. These chips are highly complex products made using rare metals that must be refined and pure.
To manufacture them, all sorts of chemical processes are required. Therefore, the input of inorganic chemists would be indispensable.
- Green Technology
Everybody is excited about the upcoming green revolution. As the climate crisis intensifies, the need for alternative energy resources is becoming urgent.
Inorganic chemists are expected to play a pivotal role in this energy transition.
They are needed for the development and manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Even biofuels, made from organic materials, need inorganic chemicals in their manufacturing process.
As an inorganic chemist, you could participate in this massive mission to save our planet by helping develop new energy sources.
- Academia
If you are particularly passionate about inorganic chemistry, you can get a job in academia as a college professor, teaching students about it.
This would allow you to continue working as theoretical chemists, researching inorganic compounds and inventing new synthetic agents.
Academia would allow you to channel your passions for chemistry to productive ends while giving you creative freedom. Besides colleges, you would also have teaching opportunities elsewhere.
For instance, online tutoring services like Superprof would hire you as a teacher to help students worldwide with their education, and students can also find chemistry tutors near me.
- The Government
As an inorganic chemist, your skills will be indispensable to various federal and state departments.
The Environmental Protection Agency and the US Geological Survey need a massive army of inorganic chemists to help them perform their duties.
NASA also employs them to work on developing advanced technologies for space shuttles and astronauts.
The Food and Drug Administration also needs them to inspect the safety of new medicines and food products.
Even the US Department of Energy will hire you to perform all sorts of tests. For example, they might ask you to oversee processes for recovering waste products and other useful metals.
Or you could be tasked with developing new energy sources and alternative fuels.
What You Need To Be An Inorganic Chemist?
Evidently, a career in inorganic chemistry can ensure you have a stable job. It is also a very well-paid profession.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of inorganic chemists was $75,840 in 2016. In the same year, 96,200 chemists were employed in the US.
After all, so many industries would be interested in hiring you.
Plus, demand for inorganic chemists is expected to only grow in the foreseeable future. So now, you might be wondering what you need to become an inorganic chemist.
To help you understand, we have mapped out a small chart. Different education qualifications would grant you entry into different jobs:
| Education Level | Job |
|---|---|
| Basic high school education | Not sufficiently qualified for most jobs hiring inorganic chemists. |
| Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or related field | An entry-level chemist or materials scientist. Most employers would hire you as a quality control expert. |
| Master’s degree in chemistry or related field | You could now work in the RnD division to develop and invent new inorganic compounds. |
| A Ph.D. in chemistry or related field | This is necessary for a job in academia as a professor. Some of the best inorganic chemistry jobs also require this – for instance, you need it to work at NASA. |
Unsurprisingly, becoming an inorganic chemist requires years of education. So you have to get started soon to finally achieve that dream job as a chemist.
Want To Hire A Chemistry Tutor From Superprof!
Alas, studying inorganic chemistry can be tricky. Fortunately, you do not have to be alone in this.
With the right aides by your side, you can rapidly acquire the relevant qualifications to begin working as an inorganic chemist.
Superprof offers its customers the chance to hire a chemistry tutor online to help them with their education.
With their highly qualified teachers by your side, you do not have to worry about falling behind on your studies – achieving all your milestones in time to become an inorganic chem
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
