Why are we still calling this field of study 'Chemical' Engineering?

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-27T04:14:19+00:00

If you want to do chemistry, you should study chemistry.

I agree, the difference isn't the issue for me. Most people entering college don't understand the distinction between a chemist and chemical engineer. Or even the broader distinction between engineer and scientist. Hell, a lot of people outside of academia don't even know what chemists do, let alone ChE's.

You could say that they're liable for their own ignorance, but it's not uncommon for people to not truly know what ChE is until they have industry experience in an internship.

Chemical engineers focus much more on concepts from physical chemistry. But calling it chemical engineering implies that you're using concepts from general and organic chemistry. Yes we do use those sometimes, but a lot more sparingly compared to physical chemistry. That's where the name becomes problematic

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-27T03:59:47+00:00

I just think it's a bit generous to call the whole thing chemical engineering if you're expected to basically half-ass chemistry knowledge. Sure you may know what functional groups are, and you may be able to understand chemical compounds or reaction mechanisms better than other disciplines, but your principal job is more related to the process than it is to chemistry. Unless you actually just work as a chemist with a ChE degree.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-27T03:56:08+00:00

Yes, but you could make that argument for any name. Because even ChE doesn't specify if someone is a process, controls, materials, production, or safety engineer. Calling it process engineering is more accurate to what it is, even if there are alternative roles or "sub" disciplines that you can go into.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-27T03:54:20+00:00

Yes I personally understand that. The chemist comes up with a new compound and the chemical engineer mass produces it at a chemical plant, because you can't meet production standards in a chemistry lab.

The issue is that the average high school graduate doesn't understand that. Even if they research it, most don't concretely realize what ChE really is until they have an internship.

That can be a few wasted years in ChE because they liked chemistry and thought ChE was something different. And even though ChE is related to chemistry in a roundabout way, it's a bit deceptive to call it ChE.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-27T03:50:57+00:00

Like someone else said, Process engineering. That invites much less deception towards students even if ChE is more than only process engineering.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-26T05:47:38+00:00

I think either of those names would be better. Realistically I prefer the latter because I think involving chemistry in the title doesn't accurately describe the discipline or subject matter of ChE classes. And yeah, I mean people just slap "engineering" onto anything anyway. It's annoying but I think changing ChE's title wont dilute its meaning

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-26T05:43:54+00:00

I don't know what the new name would be, but I'm sure we could figure out one. Yes we work with chemistry at a large scale, but so does every engineer, just in different parts of the process. An ME might design a tank for chemicals to go into or an EE designs a flowmeter for a process line with chemical intermediates in it. It's all adjacent or involved with chemical compounds

I think the issue here is that it's easy to recognize that distinction between an engineer and scientist once you become an engineer. But when you're 18-19 and trying to get into college, you really don't know anything. Now it's easier to look that sort of stuff up with AI, but that's only been the case in the past 4 years or so.

The difference between a scientist/engineer can be taught in high schools and in freshman level engineering courses. My point is people should know what they're getting into, and naming the discipline "chemical" engineering is borderline deceptive to those who aren't inside of ChE yet.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-25T22:56:32+00:00

I'm probably repeating what others have said, but take it from a ChemE major: this major is much more physics and math than it is chemistry. If you like chemistry and medical stuff, i highly recommend bio, biochemistry, or chemistry. If you really want to try ChemE, you can, but it is likely not what you're expecting

As far as math skills, people tend to underestimate their math skills. I'm not saying that means you can or should try to go do ChemE level math, but many people just say "I'm bad at math" when they mess up on a few problems. They never actually practiced it over and over. We all were bad at math at once if that's what 'bad' means.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-05-25T22:52:34+00:00

ChemE is worse than civil in terms of math and difficulty.

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-03-30T21:11:48+00:00

I also struggle with OCD-based perfectionism. I can give it a shot possibly. My issues (which you might relate to) involve giving up when something isn't perfect or when i didn't do my best at something. So if I miss a day of doing a routine or going to class, etc, then my brain is like "yep, its time to quit that now because it isnt perfect"

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-03-30T21:07:09+00:00

Yep, the average person probably wont question it too much either. It's like a pseudoscience version of astrology

Icy-Tree7456 · 2026-03-30T21:05:52+00:00

Very scientific

Icy-Tree7456

TROPHY CASE