ical products and processes, test processing equipment and instrumentation, gather
data, and monitor quality.
Chemical engineers also build mathematical models and analyze the results,
mostly to help understand the performance of a process. In fact, the “solution” to a
math problem is often in the understanding of the behavior of the process described
by the mathematics, rather than the specific numerical result.How is math used to understand chemical reactions?
One of the simplest examples of mathematics used in understanding chemical reac-
tions is based on two chemicals, A and B (they can be molecules or ions). If A and B
encounter one another, they can rearrange themselves into molecules or ions of two
other substances: in this example, C and D. The reaction that takes place can give off
or absorb energy, making the molecules move faster or slower. Although this is a sim-
ple example of what can happen in a chemical reaction, it can still be analyzed using
mathematical modeling. For example, given starting amounts of A, B, C, and D mole-
cules at time t0, what would the molecules be like at time t 1 (or after a specific
amount of time)? These and more complex chemical engineering questions can be
answered using mathematical modeling.INDUSTRIAL AND
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
How are statisticsused in industrial engineering?
Industrial engineers study the efficient use of personnel, materials, and machines in fac-
342 tories, stores, repair shops, and offices. They prepare layouts of machinery and equip-
What are some examples of
mathematical models used by chemical engineers?T
here are numerous examples of how mathematical models are used by chem-
ical engineers—too many to mention them all here. One good example is
modeling crystal growth: Liquids—from water to molten metals—become crys-
talline solids as they are cooled. Engineers can mathematically design software
that helps in the manufacture of superior crystalline growth, especially for elec-
tronics and other industries. These improved crystal forms advance the quality
of electronic hardware, including computers, and help engineers design better
alloys for a wide range of applications.