Technical practice questions
Chemical Engineering Interview Questions
Real Chemical Engineering interview questions with answers. Filter by sub-field and difficulty, then drill them in practice mode.
Showing 33 of 33 questions
Beginner
Fundamentals, definitions, expected of any candidate
Intermediate
Applied reasoning, design tradeoffs, calculations
Advanced
Deeper scenario / system-design questions and edge cases (stretch material)
BeginnerFundamentals
Explain mass and energy balances and their role in process design.
fundamental knowledgemass balanceenergy balanceconservation
BeginnerFundamentals
What's the difference between a batch and a continuous process (for balances)?
fundamental knowledgebatchcontinuoussteady state
BeginnerFundamentals
State Bernoulli's equation and its assumptions.
fundamental knowledgeBernoullifluid mechanicsassumptions
BeginnerFundamentals
What is the difference between heat and temperature?
fundamental knowledgeheattemperatureenergy
BeginnerFundamentals
Explain enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy at a high level.
fundamental knowledgeenthalpyentropyGibbs free energy
BeginnerFundamentals
What is the Reynolds number and why does it matter?
fundamental knowledgeReynolds numberlaminarturbulent
BeginnerFundamentals
What is the ideal gas law and when does it break down?
fundamental knowledgeideal gas lawequation of state
IntermediateProcess Engineering
What is a P&ID and what does it show?
P&IDinstrumentationcontrol loopsPFD
AdvancedProcess Engineering
How do you approach designing a chemical reactor?
reactor designCSTRPFRkineticsconversion
AdvancedProcess Engineering
A heat exchanger's performance dropped, how do you diagnose it?
heat exchangerLMTDfoulingtroubleshooting
IntermediateMaterials Science
Explain the difference between adsorption and absorption.
adsorptionabsorptionsorptionseparations
IntermediateMaterials Science
What are creep and stress relaxation?
creepstress relaxationmaterialstemperature
IntermediateProcess Engineering
How does a distillation column separate components?
distillationboiling pointrefluxseparation
AdvancedProcess Engineering
What is an azeotrope and why does it matter?
azeotropedistillationseparation limit
AdvancedProcess Engineering
What is NPSH and what causes cavitation in a pump?
NPSHcavitationpumpsvapor pressure
IntermediateProcess Engineering
Compare centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps.
pumpscentrifugalpositive displacementviscosity
IntermediateProcess Engineering
Difference between a unit operation and a unit process?
unit operationunit processphysicalchemical
IntermediateProcess Engineering
Why is counter-current flow preferred in a heat exchanger?
heat exchangercounter-currentLMTDefficiency
BeginnerMaterials Science
Difference between sensible heat and latent heat?
sensible heatlatent heatphase change
IntermediateMaterials Science
What is corrosion and how do you mitigate it in process equipment?
corrosionmaterials selectioncathodic protection
IntermediateOil & Gas (Process)
Walk through the basic stages of crude oil refining.
refiningdistillationcrackingreforminghydrotreating
BeginnerOil & Gas (Process)
What's the difference between upstream, midstream, and downstream?
upstreammidstreamdownstreamoil & gas value chain
IntermediateOil & Gas (Process)
Why is process safety (e.g., HAZOP, relief systems) so central in oil & gas?
process safetyHAZOPrelief valveflareSIS
IntermediateOil & Gas (Process)
What is a separator and what does it do in oil & gas production?
separatorphase separationproductionpressure vessel
IntermediateProcess Engineering
What is a PID controller and what does each term do (in process control)?
PIDprocess controlsetpointtuning
BeginnerProcess Engineering
What is the difference between a PFD and a P&ID?
PFDP&IDprocess documentation
IntermediateProcess Engineering
What is a relief valve and why is it critical?
relief valveoverpressureprocess safetyASME
BeginnerMaterials Science
What is the difference between a thermoplastic and a thermoset polymer?
thermoplasticthermosetpolymercross-linking
IntermediateMaterials Science
What is catalysis and why are catalysts important in chemical processes?
catalysisactivation energyselectivityyield
AdvancedProcess Engineering
What is reflux ratio and how does it affect a distillation column?
reflux ratiodistillationseparationenergy
AdvancedProcess Engineering
A distillation column isn't hitting purity spec. How do you troubleshoot it?
distillation troubleshootingrefluxfloodingweeping
IntermediateProcess Engineering
What is the difference between flooding and weeping in a distillation column?
floodingweepingtrayscolumn capacity
IntermediateMaterials Science
What is the difference between crystalline and amorphous materials?
crystallineamorphousstructureglass transition