Section 3Sec./Art. 3

Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

(a) Chemistry refers to the study, analysis, modification and calculations of physico-chemical or biochemical properties of matter. Chemistry includes the atomic, molecular, surface and supramolecular composition and structure of matter, properties and reactions, the changes which matter undergoes, the energy involved, and the conditions under which such changes occur. Biochemistry, which is defined as the study of the chemical compounds and processes in biological organisms, is included within the scope of chemistry for purposes of this Act;

(b) Registered chemist refers to any person who is engaged in the professional practice of chemistry, as defined herein, who is duly registered with the Board of Chemistry and the Professional Regulation Commission. A registered chemist shall have the authority to undertake the professional practice of chemistry;

(c) Registered chemical technician refers to any person who is engaged in the work of chemical analysis, as defined herein, and who is duly registered with the Board of Chemistry;

(d) Chemical analysis refers to a physico-chemical or biochemical procedure which involves the following and related techniques:

(1) Measurement of properties, such as power of hydrogen (PH), oxidation-reduction potential, density, atomic or molecular weight, and others;

(2) Use of methods, such as titration, gravimetric analysis, electrochemical measurements, spectroscopy, chromatography, and others;

(3) Determination of the atomic or molecular quantity of one or more components of a substance;

(4) Determination of the atomic, molecular, surface or supramolecular nature or structure of substance;

(5) Preparation of a sample for chemical analysis;

(6) Separation and/or purification of a mixture into its components using techniques, such as distillation, crystallization, density, reactivity, extraction, adsorption, size exclusion, affinity, chromatography, and others;

(7) Calculations of physico-chemical or biochemical properties or concentrations of chemicals or biochemicals;

(8) Computational methods applied to chemically or biochemically related matters, such as molecular design, molecular modelling, chemometrics, and others; and

(9) Other analytical methods which characterize matter at the atomic, molecular or supramolecular level;

(e) Chemical synthesis refers to the preparation of a compound or chemical entity from its elements or from other compounds or chemical entities by one or more chemical reactions. Synthesis, as defined herein, refers to both chemical synthesis which may use chemical catalysts, and biochemical synthesis which uses enzymes and other biological compounds to promote a reaction; and

(f) Chemical laboratory refers to a facility where activities described in Section 3(d) and 3(e) are performed. Such activities carried out outside of a chemical laboratory, for example, a factory, mobile laboratory or field analysis, shall likewise be considered a chemical laboratory. The head of a chemical laboratory shall be a registered chemist.