There are many different types of chemists, but two broad categories are:
- Analytical Chemists: Analytical chemists specialize in the development, use and interpretation of methods to determine the chemical composition of materials. They use a variety of analytical techniques to identify, quantify and separate the components of a sample, and to determine the properties of those components. Analytical chemists work in a wide range of settings, including industry, government, and academia, and their work may include quality control, environmental monitoring, forensic analysis, and more.
- Synthetic Chemists: Synthetic chemists specialize in the design and execution of chemical reactions to create new compounds or modify existing ones. They use their understanding of chemical reactions and the properties of different compounds to design and carry out experiments, and to optimize the conditions under which the reactions occur. Synthetic chemists work in a wide range of settings, including industry, government, and academia, and their work may include the development of new drugs, materials, and other products.
It is worth to note that many chemists have a combination of skills and may be involved in both analytical and synthetic chemistry or may specialize in other types of chemistry such as physical chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, etc.