Our whole world is made of chemicals. We are made of chemicals, the food we eat, what we wear, and all the things that surround us as well. The field of study that deals with matter and all the substances contained in it is called chemistry. So, it’s no surprise that chemistry is considered a central science since it’s fundamental to understanding our world and how everything around us functions.
But since for most people the first encounter with chemistry as a science happened somewhere in middle school, chances are a lot of you aren’t very fond of it. We tend to associate chemistry with a dull school laboratory, complicated formulas and lots of weird and hard to remember terms. However, there’s much more to chemistry than that. In fact, chemistry can be quite a fascinating field of study if you take the time to explore it, and it’s not at all limited to mixing substances in a laboratory.
So, if you’re thinking about pursuing a career in this field and you want to improve your chemistry knowledge, or if you simply want to broaden your horizons and you’re curious about chemistry in general, here are a few good reasons why you should consider studying chemistry.
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Gain a better understanding of our world
Since every living creature and item under the sun, and even the sun itself, is made of chemicals, studying chemistry can definitely help you gain a much deeper understanding of the world we live in.
Every single aspect of our lives is influenced by chemicals, so understanding what things are made of and how substances interact with each other can shed light on so many phenomena that we experience on a daily basis. Instead of guessing why things happen the way they happen, chemistry can provide detailed and accurate answers to many of the questions that you’ve been asking yourself for years.
Become better at deciphering labels and ingredients
Have you ever looked at food labels or the ingredient list of the skincare products you use and wondered what on earth do all those strange-sounding terms mean? We bet you’re curious to find out what’s behind those complicated and fancy substances written on all the labels you come across.
Well, once again, chemistry can provide the answer to your questions. The best part is that once you learn to decipher product labels and understand what common ingredients are all about, you can make more informed decisions when you purchase your goods. Knowledge is power, and chemistry knowledge can empower you in ways that you’d never expect.
Numerous career opportunities
Let’s say you choose to study chemistry because you want to start a career in this field. Wondering where your studies can take you? The short answer is in many places. Chemistry is a broad field of study, so you can choose to specialize in one of the many branches and disciplines that derive from it such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and so on.
If you earn a master’s degree in chemistry, it will open a lot of doors for you career-wise and you’ll also be able to switch professions if you decide to further your studies in a specific area. Thus, studying chemistry provides both flexibility and numerous career opportunities, which is not something you get to enjoy in every discipline.
Earn a nice paycheck
It’s not just the various career opportunities that make chemistry such an interesting and appealing field of study, but also the possibility to earn a substantial income. It wouldn’t really matter if you could land all kinds of jobs if all those jobs would be poorly paid.
Luckily, working as a chemist can guarantee you a good income, so you can enjoy a nice and comfortable lifestyle if you choose this career path. Of course, wages vary depending on your qualification, the industry you work in, the experience, and the skills you have. The more demanding your specialization is, the greater the chances of earning a higher salary.
Make a difference
Chemistry advancements helped shaped the world we live in and continue to make a positive impact in people’s lives. Just think of how some of the most famous chemistry innovations such as the discovery of penicillin, insulin, or the development of solar panels have helped humanity evolve over the years.
The work of chemists is invaluable to the health and safety of our planet, and all the living beings that populate it. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy many of the modern conveniences that we take for granted today. So, if you choose to become a chemist, you have the opportunity to drive change and make a positive difference in the world.
Wide applications
Since chemistry is such a versatile domain that impacts every field of activity, you can use your chemistry knowledge in a variety of ways and work in many different industries. Whether it’s construction, agriculture, transport, health, or food service, chemists are needed in almost every industry to bring their contribution to the product development process. Considering chemistry has such wide applicability over many different sectors, you can rest assured there’s always going to be a high demand for skilled chemists.
Helps you stay safe
As we already mentioned, we are surrounded by chemicals everywhere, but unfortunately, some of the chemicals in our environment are harmful or even deadly. Take a look at some of the household chemicals you have in your bathroom or kitchen, and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
Having good chemistry knowledge can help you figure out which chemicals are dangerous, what types of substances shouldn’t be mixed together, and what effects they could produce. This will help you keep yourself, your loved ones, and the environment safe and avoid dangerous situations.
As you can see, studying chemistry can improve both your life and the life of other people. The reasons we’ve mentioned above are just a few of the aspects that make studying chemistry a great idea, so you might want to give chemistry a try.
