Chemists’ jobs temporariness

Just like sodium ions, chloride ions are spectator ions in acid-base chemistry. Their job is to provide a charge balance to the cations in solution. So, in calculating the pH of lidocaine hydrochloride we ignore the chloride ion. Now we could draw out the structure or write the molecular formula of lidocaine and its conjugate acid, but it is tedious to do so. Let s do what most chemists do, and postulate a temporary abbreviation for these species. How about using L for lidocaine, and HL+ for its conjugate acid Now, we can write an equation for the acid ionization equilibrium reaction. 

In addition to process research positions, a variety of other jobs go to chemical developers. Some organic chemists work in kilo laboratories or pilot plants, while others labor in natural products, biocatalysis, or safety groups. Finally, anyone interested in chemical development work may consider temporary employment with a scientific staffing agency having fipcos among its clients (see text below). 

Furthermore, a resum6 listing more than 2 or 3 years of postdoctoral research raises some industrial recruiters concerns. In the absence of any explanation accompanying the resume, they wonder why anyone would spend so long in a temporary position. The fate of such a r sum can become indefinite postponement. With 50 other applications to consider—not an unusually large number of them—and routine work to accomplish, a chemist with a job to fill devotes little time to unanswered questions. 

Spedding finished work required for the Ph.D. in 1929 and was greeted by the Great Depression. Jobs for chemists were virtually non-existent and so for tlie next seven years he lived on promises and a series of temporary fellowships. Although these carried prestige and honor they were financially meager and at best offered only a hand-to-mouth existence. The stress of the period probably produced the ulcer that plagued him much of his life. 

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