Question: what is a analytical scientist

Diane Turner answered on 6 Mar 2026:

Hi,
Thanks you for your question!
An analytical scientist is usually a chemist that analyses samples to find out, for example, what they are made of.
This could be routine analysis for safety reasons, for example the analysis of drinking water or food to ensure they are free of chemicals like pesticides.
It could be research, for example analysis the fragrance of a flower to determine what chemical compound the smell is made of to then create a perfume with the same fragrance.
Everything that is made needs to be analysed, for example toys or kitchen utensils to ensure they are leaching toxic compounds like phthalates.
If you look around you right now, everything that you can see, everything that you buy has been analysed, but it goes beyond planet Earth, analytical scientists or analyse meteorites or build miniature analytical instruments that analyse things in space, for example on Mars.
Being an analytical scientist is very exciting as you can work in any industry! From healthcare to pharmaceuticals to food to energy to oil and gas to environmental.