All You Need to Know About Applied Chemistry

Have you ever wondered what drives the manufactures of goods like laundry detergent, Glass wares, and body cream, to constantly improve their products, even
inagricultural like knowing what to plant on a particular area of land? The answer stems from a field called applied chemistry.

Discover what applied chemistry is.

Applied chemistry is the application of the principles and theories of chemistry to answer a specific question or solve a real-world problem, as opposed to pure chemistry, which is aimed at enhancing knowledge within the field , the above image show a clear illustration of how applied chemist employ all the principles in other various branches in solving real world problem.

Let's say your aim is to find a cure for a disease - Alzheimer's.

 You work hard in the laboratory creating a drug that stops dementia from setting in. 

This would be an example of applied chemistry, since you used chemistry to solve a specific, real-world problem.

Understanding the Process

Chemistry, like other fields of science, follows the scientific method, though perhaps not as strictly. 

The scientific method is composed of techniques and guidelines for conducting research that help scientists ensure their results are accurate. 

Let's explore how steps of the scientific method can be used, even loosely, by applied chemists in the laboratory as i do every day in Frigoglass where i work.

 Keep in mind that some scientists follow processes that more strictly adhere to the scientific method.

Step 1: Define your problem or question.

This is crucial to applied chemistry. After all, the field is focused on finding an answer or solving a problem, so the first thing we need to do is clearly state the problem or question.

This will help you find the goal of your testing, (view this testing procedure). For example, you might determine that you want to address Rapid Weatherization (Glass Blooming) problem for glass manufacturer, i.e formation of carbonate crystals on the surface of the glass. : Your goal, then, is to produce glass that is inert to the environmental factors that encourages glass blooming.

Determining the problem or question early  will make it easier to move through the rest of the steps smoothly.

Step 2: Crack open the books. 

Once you've defined your problem, it's time to build up your bank of knowledge about the subject at hand. Again, we're trying to use our knowledge to solve a problem. So looking at glass composition,  you  might look at compounds that will react with humidity, CO2 in the glass and think of how to mask such. In turn, you might discover potential ways to stop that reaction. This will help guide your research in the right direction.

Step 3: Design the study (Methodology). 

Now, you can move on to research design. The aim is to create a conceptual structure in which you'll conduct your study. There are various types of study designs, such as diagnostic, experimental, and exploitative designs, but you can plan your testing in any way best suited for reaching your goal.
and after which you apply analytical Chemistry procedure as follows

Step : 4 Obtain Representative Sample .

At this stage you are to consider the following factors
Sample size, Homogeneity and type.
Sampling statistics and expected errors

Step 5: Sample Preparation for Analysis. 

 Factors are manly the following questions

• Solid,liquid, or gas?
• Dissolve?
• Ash or Digest?
• Chemical separation or masking of inference needed?
• Need to concentrate the analyte?
• Need to change the analyte for detection?
• Need to adjust sample solution condition like pH by adding reagents?

Step 6: Perform Necessary Chemical Separations With Any Of he following Methods. 

Distillation
Precipitation
Solvent Extraction
Solid phase extraction
Cromatography
Electrophoresis

Step 7: Perform Measurement

 Factors:

• Calibration
• Validation and controls/banks
• Replicate

Step 8: Calculate Your Results and report

 Factors:

• Statistical analysis
• Report results with limitation/accuracy information

Step 9: Come to a conclusion

So you have done all the above diagnosis you can now check your findings in respect to solving the problem and publish your finding and solutions.

If you feel that I have missed anything out then please let me know via the comments below. As with all my write up here at Inside Chemistry are products of my empirical knowledge of over 6 years of practicing as a chemical analyst and I recommend bookmarking this for future reference, because i am Still updating it since science is dynamic.

Feel free to contact me for any test method procedures at the comment section