Chemical engineering is an engineering field that deals with the study of operation and design of chemical plants, as well as methods of improving production. Chemical engineers develop economical commercial processes to convert raw materials into useful products. They use principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to efficiently use, produce, design, transport, and transform energy and materials. The work of chemical engineers can range from the utilization of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in the laboratory to large-scale industrial processes that convert chemicals, raw materials, living cells, microorganisms, and energy into useful forms and products.

Chemical engineers are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation, including safety and hazard assessments, process design and analysis, modeling, control engineering, chemical reaction engineering, nuclear engineering, biological engineering, construction specification, and operating instructions. They conceive and design processes involved in chemical manufacturing, and their main role is to design and troubleshoot processes for the production of chemicals, fuels, foods, pharmaceuticals, and biologicals, among others. Chemical engineers are most often employed by large-scale manufacturing plants to maximize productivity and product quality while minimizing costs.

Chemical engineering is a discipline that influences numerous areas of technology, and chemical engineers can work in various fields, including industry, academia, consulting, law, medicine, finance, and others. Chemical engineers may be involved in waste management and research, and both applied and research facets could make extensive use of computers. The aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental, medical, and military industries use chemical engineering to develop and improve their technical products.

In summary, chemical engineering involves the production and manufacturing of products through chemical processes, and chemical engineers use principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to design and troubleshoot processes for the production of various products. They work in various fields and are involved in many aspects of plant design and operation.