What foundational principles underpin chemical engineering practices? How do the laws of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and kinetics influence chemical processes' design and optimization? How does the interplay between chemical reactions, mass transfer phenomena, and material properties shape industrial processes? In what ways do concepts like equilibrium, reaction rates, and transport phenomena guide the development of efficient separation techniques and reactor design? How do chemical engineers integrate these theoretical frameworks to address real$-$world challenges in energy, pharmaceuticals, and materials production?