Is Chemical Engineering Really That Hard?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- ✔️ VIDEO DESCRIPTION:
I always get the question - Is Chemical Engineering Easy or is it Hard? Well.. depends, but in general it is indeed a hard major. There are lots of Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Problem Solving, LOTS of homework, Projects and Crazy Exams!
But that doesn't mean you can't make it! Keep it up!
⌚Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:27 Introduction
01:08 Is ChemE Really that hard?
02:35 Hardcore Maths?
03:37 Easy Thermodynamics?
05:11 Complex Chemistry!
06:38 No need for study! Yei!
07:22 Easy Exams and Homeworks
08:40 Lots of friends!?
09:58 We love ChemE being HARD!
11:13 Can you do it?
12:34 What about you? Is it hard?
---
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“You cannot escape thermo…” This channel got deep…
but can you? XD
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy Thermo is easy. PChem is the real bitch...
If it was easy, anyone would be able to do it!
for sure! thanks for stopping by Shawn!
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuyis chemical engineering better than mechanical engineering? In terms of a broad knowledge set?
@@skeletorlikespotatoes7846 there is no better option here, you just have to choose one and roll with it
I’ve just started my Ph.D. In chemical engineering. I love that this field uses tons of math, physics, and chemistry.
Yeah! If you are into STEM, then this is a great idea!
How do you find doing a pH.D. in chem eng Vs previous years? I'm currently doing a master's and am considering future options. I definitely want to work in industry for a while to build up experience (and some money at this point if I'm to be honest). Any advice would be greatly appreciated
@@st3altypandas63 When you say previous years, do you mean undergrad? or doing a PhD in ChemE today vs years ago? Either way, I think a chemical engineering PhD is great if you love research. I do, and love getting deep into the details of how stuff works. So far I have loved the program and am learning a lot. I do think I will want to go into industry as well, I just want to get my PhD first. But I could understand why you would want to get a job and make money now. A PhD is not essential to be successful in industry. It only opens different doors. Although masters and PhD can have some overlap in the positions they open. If you like the doors the PhD opens, then go that route. Otherwise, it may not be worth it for you. A master's in engineering is usually sufficient to get many engineering jobs out there except for usually research-based positions.
For me maths well not come 🙁
Dose chemical engineering has very difficult problems in studies?
@@manjusree5309 I mean not everyone has to work on tough problems as a chemical engineer. However, you will definitely have to do some pretty tough math and physics problems in undergrad in order to design processes and characterize the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of materials.
I have a PhD in chemical engineering. It was hard, but not impossible. I did have to study constantly, and had very little free time. Although I always had exam anxiety, I always made sure that I was very well prepared, so did well. The only course that I had conceptual difficulty with was Graduate Statistical Mechanics.
That's great! I did have some times problems with confidence before the exam
Was thinking of doing a PhD but I am really worried about Stats. It was not much on my Bachelor's but after finishing Masters, I can see the stats applications increase the higher you go.
I did a Chemical and Materials Engineering course so I was quite into chemistry. This was my way of adding abit more colour into the work.
XD haha chemistry is such a topic in ChemE to discuss
Amazing video, Emmanuel! Have to agree with all the points you have made, nearly all chem eng students I know say the same sort of thing.
Thanks my friend, Indeed, this is universal XD
For sure! XD
Chemical engineering is EXTREMELY HARD. If anyone wants to go into this. BE READY. It’s a full time job/grind. You must study 6 hours a day minimum outside the classroom if you want to receive As. Anything less than 3 hours a day will lead to failing the classes. You could literally study hard and still fail. You have to PUSH yourself to the absolute max and ALWAYS be discipline and keep being persistent when you get a bad grade keep persisting and never quit
Wow, I thought this was sarcasm, but indeed, many students will have to dedicate a lot of time to that! NEVER quit if you really want it!
I actually am in this. It is true. Without those extra hours, I'd have been failing massively.
@@dw9944 yeah it’s not a joke. You really have to try hard
My Grade suck last semester 😭😭😭
HAHAHA 4 HOURS Was the barest minimum especially for someone like me who studies in Nigeria 🇳🇬😂😂😂
At the beggining it is hard, but, then it becomes much worse
HAhaha loved it!
yes
🤣🤣🤣 i felt that.
Hahaha 💫
Loving your content! How about a video on most usefull textbooks for chemical engineers working in the industry
Thanks Mircea! I will for sure! I have lots of video Ideas comin soon! It just takes a lot of time to edit XD
I'm a 3rd semester student of ChemEng, I am suprised because most of courses is filled of math and physic. but, after I learned chem industry procces and visited industries , I'm back excited and interested to learn more
Yeah! Maths and physics are quite core essentials for ChemE
The hard part of chem eng at university/college is that there is barely any overlap between modules/classes! The breath is huge and often each small area goes into a lot of detail. Conceptual modules/classes can be very rough too such as transport phenomena and phase equilibria.
That is correct, the gaps between subjects seem endless...
I just graduated from chemical engineering Thermo was 😭😭 but your channel helped me pass ! Thank you for the great content
I'm so glad! Those lectures on thermo are so oldschool... I gotta update them haha!
When I started Chemical Engineering studies, I found (most often than not) some subjects really boring and tiresome. But then again, if there is an interest into something, nothing may be boring or hard (challenging, yes, but not HARD). I guess I was simply tired of getting into the theory without that knowledge being seen put into practice (not lab-scale since it's very controlled). My interests shifted when I was invited for a Petro-chemical plant tour as part of a plant design project. My interest and love for this engineering grew 10 fold. It was awesome to see the cogs of engineering design take shape from paper to large-scale plant.
And what is "free Time" ? lol. I was lucky enough to have a balanced life during University. Haha.
Yeah! Having access to some job/co-op/internship while studying is always helpful, it allows you to have a better vision of wth is going on!
I think chemical engineering can be considered difficult due to the breadth of engineering that one will be exposed to in university. I find it to be a very versatile degree and has allowed me to still enjoy technical conversations with my friends in mechanical engineering on things like turbines.
Thank you for the informative video.
That is correct! People don't really know how versatile this engineering degree is! Its hard for sure, but the gains!
great content as always.. would like to see you do a workplace vlog
What exactly do you have in mind?
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy like what goes in your office or industry you work at.. maybe like an office tour or something😁
Studying cheme while working as a Hospital Pharmacist was brutal workload wise. I came to it thinking i can design some new drug but after 2nd year i realize it's the furthest course from what i initially wanted to do. Sticked with it through 5 years that was the most fun/stressful part of my life mostly because of trying to balanced work and school. One time I was at an exam in thermodynamics II and our doctor called me to do some drug-drug interaction case study on a specific patient who is taking vancomycin. Had to ask the professor if I can continue the exam later in the afternoon (which he agreed to, thankfully) and I went immediately went back to the hospital.
PS. Even as a chemical engineer, I still took the higher paying job of a Hospital Pharmacist. If i took that junior engineer job in that water treatment plant, i'd have to agree to be paid less than half of what i earn as a pharmacist and i just can't. But then, i can still call myself an Engineer as my colleagues do with me in the hospital just for the fun of it.
wow, nice background, It will be great to know more about how ChemE degree helped you, if any, in your career
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy it gave me a deeper view physics-wise of the process flow of different drug distribution systems. The chemistry was dealt with already in pharmacy school but it was great to learn the engineering perspective. It gave me sufficient credentials to apply as a QA engineer in a pharmaceutical plant near me but it still has lower pay than being a Pharmacist. Maybe I need an MBA or something.
For me, the hardest part of cheme program was transport phenomena. Once you get past that and the rigorous lessons about laplace and fourier transform, everything else is just skimming my perry chemical engg handbook. It's a different kind of difficulty compared to say advance organic and pharmaceutical chemistry they teach in pharmacy school dealing with structure activity relationships of bioactive compounds.
Also I am happy this was addressed, Chem Eng is difficult but I hope this doesn't make people not want to do it. Give it a shot and try to understand. That's my advice, if you understand, life becomes easier as the information stacks over the years so cramming doesn't help.
Yep, if you like it, go for it
Thank you for the great video! I am a chemical engineering student. I'd like to share something in regard to mathematics. My teacher says that chemical engineers don't study maths in detail like the other types of engineering students just because we are rather technologist than real engineers and also that this is why we cannot deal with the math problems of the other engineering fields. Would you say something about this statement?
Well, tbh, I've seen the same "background" or "core" of Mathematics for most engineers, i.e. Math 1-4, very rarely I will see different maths on other degree, but it does happen. Important to not is YES, we are engineers, not mathemathicians, so our problem solving approach is towards that....solving problems, not using fancy math. "We can not deal with the other math problems of other engineering fields"? Well, glad we are not working on those fields but in chemical engineering XD
Yep. My daughter is a chemical engineer and is a Ph.D. candidate. I remember her being quite stressed during undergrad and that is a kid who usually always says, "Itta be fine!" LOL!
Hahah, congrats to you and her! Apparently she loves though studies!
what classes and clubs do you recommend one takes during junior and senior year of high school? I’m interested in going into chemical engineering and I’m worried I’m missing out by not taking the proper classes. Will this affect my admission to college in any way? Are there any things I can do now to get ahead and make myself stand out?
Get into toastmasters, organization of events for ChemE students in university, sports that you like to network, and get to party so you can bond with other ppl
ChemE is not that difficult if you are motivated. However it can be hard to really understand how the material you are learning in class will be applied in real life and that can be a hindrance in your studies. If you can get a co-op or internship early on or find some way to get exposed to or learn about industry then you will likely have a much easier time in your courses. Also if you go work before you graduate that's how you'll know if you really like ChemE. I see so many people that are in it for the lab work and chemistry but it's all about large scale processes involving chemicals :)
For sure... Working always clears minds!
I think it’s still difficult even if you’re motivated !
I'm going back to school next August to continue on with my Bachelor's of Science Degree in Chemistry with a minor in Computer Science. I eventually want to get my PhD in Chemical Engineering or Nuclear Chemistry and teach and do research in Chemical Engineering or Nuclear Chemistry someday once I get my PhD as well 🙂😍❤💙.
Hello! Thank you for your kind words and thoughts of support, I appreciate that very much and absolutely, as anything in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as there are many opportunities but with those opportunities comes a lot of high expectations and competition for sure as well but I say, don't let that stop or intimidate anyone for getting into these fields as none of its at all easy but anything worth having in life never is easy for sure.
Wow! Sounds great! Congrats in pursuing great things!
Chemical Engineering is challenging but possible. I would say collaborate with each other to understand more especially with other engineers like Mechanical Engineers as we can learn so more from each other. Practice, Practice , and Practice
Hey Garrick, nice to see you here! Indeed, Mechanical Engineers can learn a lot from ChemE and vice versa!
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuywe should have an engineering community as we all can share each other’s specialties! That’s how we succeed more. Thanks for your dedication
One of the hard subjects ever seen in chemical engineering was energy balances😂
really? I found material balances harder... energy is just adding the cherry on top XD
I studied Chemical Engineering and it was friggin’ HARD!
I barely had a social life, I was frazzled 24/7, but I was never depressed because I did like studying and learning new concepts in science and engineering.
I was also quite disciplined and didn’t care to party much or go out.
Overall though, it was a great experience and I did enjoy it despite the difficulty, and I do look back at my university years with fondness. It’s not for everyone though.
I even did a research masters afterward. But once you get your bachelors, you have gained a lot of experience on how to study and problem solve, that the master’s degree is much easier.
I work in the mining industry, particularly in mineral processing, which does involve some chemistry but nothing too crazy. I take ore and turn in into metal pretty much. And I love my job and solving unique and complex problems.
Hey there! thanks for jumping in! Its always great to have actual process engineers + working in the industry... especially mining! I think its great to see that the ChemE skills are actually useful in your work!
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy you’re welcome!
I like giving feedback to future chemical engineers. It’s one of the broadest engineering fields with a wide range of applications.
I’m more of a “hydrometallurgist” in the mining field. Basically one that deals a lot with aqueous processing chemistry.
Now I’m an engineering manager, managing the engineering disciplines on a project.
But overall, it’s been an awesome career!
Did it change the amount of chemistry classes we take? We took like three years of it.
The programs change a lot between universities, generations and even between same degrees
I am doing a project of steam reforming with heat mass transfer. I would say it is quite hard to find the partial pressure near the catalyst surface including nthe boundary conditions.
For sure... how are you coping with that? are you calculating or simulating?
or estimating? or guessing? or inventing?
or ignoring?
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy simulating a dynamic system
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy I am using a optimization to find the parial pressure at each time step, bit I find it is hard to converge.
Excuse me, can u explain me about Heat Exchanger Network's? i take that's for my final project and i doubt about my paperwork. Thank you
Sounds great... To be honest, I'm far from making a heat exchange course, so I can't promise you that soon!
chemical engineering is not that hard,but it's difficult to find a job in process industry
Indeed, but not impossible and once you are there, you get lots of options xD
@@camibabyy that's great 👍🏻
@Reseaux if you want to get job into process industry as fresher then try to learn basic fluid flow operations (pump sizing,basic equation and their uses),line sizing and pressure drop calculation,heat exchanger application and try to learn how to design.distillation is simulation based but try to learn basic of mass transfer (seive vs bubble vs valve cap tray, different type of separation,packed vs structural packing,HETP)try to do certification on udemy at very low cost (aspen hysys,aspsn plus).it will definitely help you to get job into process industry.all the best
@@schoolworkaccount3887 What comes in mind when we think of Chemical Engineering is those reactions of Chemistry which most of us used to hate. But while learning Chemical Engineering your focus is not on Chemistry. The Chemical reaction shows us how much moles are required to to make certain moles of product.
When you need to make the product in tons/day then comes the role of Chemical Engineer.
According to me Chemical Engineering is Physics+ Mathematics + 5% Chemistry.Still Chemical engineers get less salary as compared to IT industry in india
Hey, thks for the video, i am an Assistant Plant Operator in a Distillery making Ethanol , waiting for Graduation as well. I want to have a career in Petroleum industry. Do you think am on the right path and what would be ur best recommendation for Msc
Hi David.... for sure! Having previous experience is always great! And not only that, you are already working in a process/manufacturing industry, which should be a plus. If you really work on the distillation part, pumping, cooling/heating, then definitively it should help you land a great job in the O&G industry... if that is what you want... If you want to pursue O&G Field, you can select either: O&G Technical Masters, MBA, Manufacturing/Production Masters
This is true iam in 3rd year chemical engineering student in university and am crying rn my courses are difficult too much mathematics and it isint my strong hold😭😭💔💔💀
Good luck, just a quick tip: practice practice practice!
Interesting, I've always found I use all my chemistry courses + more self learning in industry, whilst never use the DEs and laplace transforms etc. at most it's learning to write macros for excel. Have seen a wide gap in chemistry understanding from other colleagues, with some doing a complete equivalent of chemistry major within within their chem eng course whilst some are closer to what you describe. Certainly industry/sector dependent.
Nice to see someone actually using chemistry in ChemE XD
Which book are you holding in the start of the video?
McCabe - Unit Opeartions, 7th edition haha, the one I actually used
This book is very helpful.
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy lol, third edition here. Making me feel old...
My Chemical Engineering curriculum doesn't include linear algebra , would you recommend I take it/learn it on my own anyway?
Linear algebra will teach you how to solve systems of linear differential equations and how to handle matrices. I can't say that this will come up much in your professional life. I suspect that a lot of the high end math is now done for you numerically on computers, which we didn't have when I was an undergraduate (1976 - 1980). Linear algebra was one of my favorite undergraduate courses, but I like math.
You can probably skip it, with no harm done.
Its not 100% required, but it does help to understand solving complex (linear) problems, such as lots of sets of equations which come pretty common in Mass and Energy balances
That is entirely correct Andy, thanks for your comment! And yes... I think those who love math, we enjoy it much more XD
I will start my university life with a chemical engineering major this year. I love math, physics and chemistry. But I have a hard time memorizing. So, my question is Do chemical engineering requires a lot of memorization?
Similar situation, also curious about this.
Not at all... Although having a good memmory always helps! You will require much more "problem solving" skills as well as analysis skills.. Maybe reminding some basic equations so you don't need to have a formulary always in hand will be great, but tbh, many graduate engineers do not even remember basic equations and work 100%
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy Thank you! Your channel helps a lot in preparing to start chemical engineering.
All my professors always say that the only important thing is that you know where it's written what you need and you understand it, you don't have to memorize anything but if you really understand something then you won't forget it so easily
I think the hardest course ive ever taken on IQ was Mass Transfer, I and II. It felt like a nightmare, but i could make it and learn some.
Yes, I did had some trouble as well, but I was fine since it was not that abstract, eventually you understand separations are meant to.... drumroll... separate materials!
How would you relate Chemical Engineering with Aviation, can we study MS Aerospace Engg after BS Chemical Engineering
The materials the machines use, the motors, aerodynamcis, materials testings, manufacturing, supply chain etc
yes you can, but it is hard to get along with the mechanical part (which MechEng have an advantage)
Is supply chain good career paths for ChemE?
for sure, for any engineer... everything manufactured requires a supply chain
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy thanks. any advice, which master degree good for supply chain+Chemeng bachelor like me?
There are many lecture videos about chemistry/chemical engineering majors on my TH-cam channel. I hope it helps you a lot in studying.
Bro “mass and energy balances” course😭
XD
How much percent would che.iatry there in chemical engineering
Depends, between 20-30%
Mathematics is part of all branches of engineering. However, in professional practice you’ll spend 90% of your effort using linear algebra, geometry and statistics not calculus. Thermodynamics is a complex area, but most calculations are performed using process simulators. An understanding of the basics such as the 1st and 2nd laws, state properties such as entropy and enthalpy and the ability to conceptualise systems and set boundaries for calculations is essential. No one actually derives enthalpy or entropy values from scratch. When you work you’ll have to be able to do a few things very well: Heat and Material balances, fluid mechanics and equipment and instrument sizing and specification. That’s 90% of the field. Chemistry? You’ll do very very little of that. A knowledge of physical chemistry, basic stoichiometry and reaction kinetics is important but everything else is a waste of time.
indeed, your comment is on point! thanks for your input!
All types of engineering is not at all easy, as is anything STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) majors, none of its easy.
Indeed Chelsea, most STEM subjects are difficult overall, the mere essence of solving problems using math and sciences is a great epic adventure!
Thermo is life! However, you will not use 75% of this stuff. it all makes sense when you work in a hardcore manufacturing plant
Indeed.... Thermo is great to 1) understand 2) to apply... yet you will most likely not use it in real lif
For me, the only topics that I see demand extra work and time are mass transfer and the mixing properties of thermodynamics.
Also, generally speaking, chemical engineering is really time consuming but it is not that hard.
True, although average students have already problems with maths and analytical structure of their problem solving skills, this adds up
So many of these engineering videos conflate "a lot to do" with "hard". A chemical engineering course covers a lot of ground, ao there is a lot to do. You have to put in the hours, even if you are a fast learner. However, you dont go into the depth in each topic that you do in a more narrowly focussed degree. That's where things get more intellectually hard.
true, although for the average student, I would really say it might be "hard" to understand concepts of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, as well as unit operations; all that, add plant controll, design, etc... and joining all the knowledge could be the "hard" part
Chemical engineering isn't hard. Getting job after it, that's hard 😂😂😂
Haha true, but once you get one, it's pretty easy to change or get promoted tbh
I came here to look for this comment 😂
@@architachatterjeesumedhian XD, will do a video on this soon!
Lmaooooooo so true. Getting a true chemical plant job is near impossible.
Hi. Nice content. But please turn down the beat music....it's to present while you talking. Thx.
sure, I now have it lower =)
Not for someone who wants a degree and an immediate job to support family. Not going to study hard concepts and derivations while you should be earning.
I think it would be wonderfully exciting and fulfilling to get into pharma drug development. That is where I would go if I could do engineering all over. I am guessing it would have something to do with chem engineering, but then there is the biological side to things. Very interesting. It would be so cool to be part of a team to cure ALS or Alzheimers, for example.
True... the great thing of pharma is that you are making (most of the time) products that help people all around the world
@chemical engineering guy,write the GATE exam u will know what is chemical engineering
I've heard great things on that, and by great I mean awful XD
Bc Chemical engineering isn’t hard but life after that is hard as fuck😅
Hahaha indeed... Well, actually depends on your final job, but the hardest part will be landing one
The background music too loud. Hard to concentrate with you.
I don't think you need it or at least turn it down.
I will consider lowering it! I like the backgroun beat XD
I students now chemical engineering
Congrats, I wish you all the best in the coming years XD
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy I will try my best sir
Hii I am also a chemical Engineer
Cool! Welcome onboard my friend!
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy thanks
I dont remember what Fugacity is?....lol
XD hsahah
It's factor that help to find daviation from ideal
@@afxgaming4443 I failed that chemical engineering thermodynamics quiz 2
Aah... The bg music(the laughing part)was quite disturbing.... 🤒
I know, sorry but I am still learning editing vids hehe
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy Even without any bg music, it had been sober.... But that bg music shook my spine😖
Is Chemical engineering really that hard?
Yes!
And it’s pretty boring/dull IMO
Depends on the subject and professor, but yes... it really "depends"
watching on 1.25x like i did back in University.
HAhah indeed, its a nice trick; also try typing 1,2,3,4.... it goes to 10%,20%,30% of the video
I say, steer clear of negative people and people who say chemical engineering is hard and impossible and I don't know why you want to do it, because I never could do that and you should try xyz instead of something so difficult such as chemical engineering. People like that get on my last nerves and several of those statements that I just mentioned are gaslighting and narsiccistic!! Avoid those type of toxic people at all cost.
For sure! but many of them do it because of the $$$
it’s not hard at all, it’s even the other way around. The worst chemistry students do chemical engineering
Yeah, for sure Chemistry degrees are harder since those are theoretical
@@ChemicalEngineeringGuy I have a degree in process engineering (I work on chemical plant design). I chose this way because I’m a big lazy, and it was the simplest path.
The Chemical Engineering course in my opinion must be offered only in a big universities in rich and developed countries because they could employ best professors and can buy and install prototype laboratory equipments and instruments, which could prepare chem. engineering students into the real world as they could apply every fiber of its subject specially unit operations. It's too regretful to acquire this course in a poor and incompetent universities. My advice to parents....is try to make effort in sending their children to western countries where education is competitive. Chemical Engineering is hard only if the educators are not competent enough to train students.
I agree to a certain extent... Most of developed countries are saturated already with Chemical Engineers... Developing countries may not have the best labs or instruments, but still relevant for those countries, as most of them rely on manufacturing of raw materials or basic chemicals