Extra interview questions:
Question1: What are some of the key qualities a chemical engineer has to possess to be able to do
their job effectively?
Example: “There are several qualities that make a chemical engineer effective in their work. The first
and most important is attention to detail & inquisitiveness to learn. Chemical engineers need to be
aware of every detail of the projects they are involved with to get the results they are looking for and
for safety purposes. Other characteristics include patience, perseverance, creative thinking, and
flexibility. Another characteristic is the ability to collaborate with a diverse workforce
Question2: What is flow control, and can you explain how it is used in a chemical engineering
process?
Example: “Flow control is a process to manage the movement of a material through a production or
distribution process. The objective of flow control is to optimize the material, equipment, and
processes. As an example, I wouldn’t specify a piece of equipment with a capacity of 1000 units per
hour if the projected production volume was only 500 units per hour. Flow control is managed using
sensors and monitoring equipment placed at key points in the production process.
Question3: Can you explain the third law of thermodynamics?
Example: “The third law of thermodynamics states that when a system reaches absolute zero, a
minimum value is reached by the entropy of the system. In plain language, this means you can
reduce the system to a static state in which no activity occurs by moving it to its relative value of
absolute zero.”
Question4: Can you explain the difference between unit operation and a unit process?
Example: “The difference between unit operation and a unit process is very subtle.
A unit operation refers to the changes which occur in the mass and concentration of the material
when energy is provided from an external source and where no chemical change occurs ... think
boiling water. Generally, separation/mixing units in a process plant.
A unit process refers to the change in the reactants present in the process resulting from a chemical
reaction due to energy provided to the materials, usually in the form of heat. Eg: baking a cake.”
Question5: What is material requirement planning, and how do you use this in your job as a
chemical engineer?
Example: “Material requirement planning is the process of estimating the amount of raw material
required to produce a finished product. The calculation involves not only the components but
allowances for loss and waste during production. Several software applications make these
calculations relatively easy and accurate. Material requirement calculations are typically part of the
company’s MRP system.”
Question6: What is the solvent?
Example: “The basic definition of a solvent is that it is a liquid that can remove, dissolve, or suspend
components of a material without any chemical change to the original material. Solvents are
typically used as cleaners, carriers for the application of materials to a surface, or separate different
materials. Typical solvents include water, alcohols, and other reactive liquids.”
Question7: What are the three classes of an organic solvent?
Example: “The three classes of organic solvents are hydrocarbon, halogenated, and oxygenated.
Typical oxygenated solvents include alcohol, ketones, and esters.
Aromatics and aliphatics are hydrocarbon solvents.
Halogenated solvents are usually chlorinated agents.
Each of these is used for specific purposes and with materials they either do or don’t react with.”
Question8: Can you explain the concept of a wet bulb globe temperature and how it is used?
Example: “A wet bulb globe temperature measures the sultriness of an environment. The
measurement is based on the humidity, airspeed, and radiant temperature of an environment. When
combined, each of these factors can dramatically affect chemical processes. This is an international
standard which was developed over 50 years ago when it was found that a dry bulb temperature,
which measures the ambient temperature of an environment, was found to be insufficient in the
field of chemical engineering.”
Question9: What are some of the considerations you need to know for a piping system that is used
to transfer slurries?
Example: “In addition to capacity, surface tension, and piping materials, the key consideration for
piping systems used to transfer slurries is that they need to be able to self-drain. Since slurries
generally contain solids and are heavier and denser than most liquids, being able to self-drain is
critical. A related consideration is the amount of pressure required to blow out the line since
blockages can easily occur.”
Question10: What is an angle of repose, and why is it important within the chemical industry?
Example: “The angle of repose refers to how a conical pile forms when a solid material is poured
onto a flat surface. The angle measured as that between the side of the pile and the surface it is
being poured on to. Factors that contribute to how the pile forms include the surface area, the
density of the material, and the material’s coefficient of friction. An easy way to visualize this is to
picture sand being poured onto a surface versus a pile of rocks. The rocks will have a higher angle of
repose because they tend to form a steeper pile.”
