Introduction to Chemical Engineering

Catalog description

Chemical Engineering integrates basic science, mathematics, and engineering principles in a coherent manner that equips Chemical Engineers to tackle a remarkable variety of challenges, “from quantum mechanics to techno-economics”. This course introduces students to the subject through a multifaceted lens that emphasizes the generality of conservation laws, physico-chemical phenomena and engineering design principles, in several different settings. These include but are not limited to chemical transformations at scale, energy and environmental science, design and formulation of drugs, food science, materials processing, and biomaterials. Students will develop familiarity with process flow diagrams, computational tools used in Chemical Engineering, foundational concepts pertaining to thermodynamics and transport, and the methods of engineering design. The class also surveys seminal Chemical Engineering contributions that have altered the course of human history. This course is well suited to students entering the major, or any student who is simply curious about how all the pieces come together to design and manufacture the molecules, materials, products and processes that shape everyday life.