A covariant formalism is used in order to examine the status of Maxwell equations and to unify the concept of balances for all chemical engineering applications in relation to electrodynamics. The resulting formal structure serves as a discussion in studying the determinism of electromagnetic systems and examining the theoretical foundations for a general classification of chemical engineering applications when nonconservative forces are concerned. A strategy for modeling such applications is then sketched, and the balances for the main conserved and nonconserved extensive quantities are summarized in their covariant and classical forms.