on materials and substances such as plastics, composites, building materials, foodstuffs, metals, liquids, acids, and gases. They work in either the analytical or synthetic field. In analytical chemistry they focus on determining the substances, properties, and key data and obtaining samples. Synthetic chemistry involves developing and manufacturing new chemical substances and products.
They use computer-controlled laboratory equipment and microscopes to examine the chemical composition and chemical properties of materials and samples, such as their pH value, temperature, and density. In doing so, they draw on different chemical analysis procedures and methods. They create simple experiment drawings, prepare the samples, and set up the required apparatus and laboratory equipment. They clean and concentrate different substances and materials, e.g., using distilling, extracting, or vaporization processes, and analyze the chemical characteristic data and measuring results obtained, record and document your results, and draw up statistical and graphical analyses. Once the experiments and analyses are complete, they clean the equipment they have used and ensure the materials and samples are stored or disposed of properly.
Chemistry laboratory technicians read and understand the analysis and procedural rules and safety data sheets. During all their tasks they ensure that all quality, safety, and environmental standards are met and that samples are not contaminated by foreign bodies. When working with automated laboratory systems, they install and configure programs, monitor the automated processes, and pinpoint and eliminate faults.
The most important tasks at a glance:
- Reading and applying technical documents, analysis rules, formulas, procedure instructions, specifications, diagrams, etc., and drawing up simple experiment diagrams
- Taking and preparing samples
- Separating and cleaning specimens
- Operating and monitoring simple measuring and control systems
- Setting up, adjusting, and operating laboratory equipment, test and experiment apparatus
- Performing separation processes on solid-liquid mixtures such as decantation, sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation, and evaporation
- Performing cleaning and concentration procedures, e.g., distillation, extraction, vaporization, crystallization, adsorption, and absorption
- Carrying out and monitoring chemical and physical measurements and experiments
- Determining measured variables and parameters, e.g., temperature, density, pH values, viscosity, index of refraction, flash point, melting point, conductivity
- Applying volumetric and gravimetric methods
- Applying instrumental methods, e.g., photometry, chromatography, and potentiometry
- Applying electroanalytical methods, e.g., electrogravimetry, electrophoresis, etc.
- Cleaning, maintaining, and disinfecting laboratory equipment, test and experiment apparatus
- Calibrating equipment (= calibrating measuring instruments, setting to a precise measurement)
- Using chemicals safely, being familiar with and complying with hygiene and safety rules