All physical things, whether occurring naturally or artificially, are composed of chemicals. Chemists in basic research and development investigate the properties, composition, and structure of matter and the laws that govern the combination of elements and reactions of substances. In applied work, chemists create new products and processes, or they improve existing ones, such as plastics. In manufacturing, chemists specify the ingredients, mixing times, and temperatures for each stage in a production process. They monitor automated processes in the production of paint, and they conduct tests to assure that products meet prescribed standards.
Chemists often specialize in a subfield.
For example, they identify the presence and concentration of chemical pollutants in air, water, and soil. Organic chemists study the chemistry of the vast number of carbon compounds. Many commercial products, such as drugs and plastics, have been developed by organic chemists. Inorganic chemists study compounds consisting mainly of elements other than carbon, such as those in electronics components. Physical chemists study the physical characteristics of atoms and molecules and investigate how chemical reactions work.