CHE 314Chemical Reaction Engineering
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Chemical Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Review of stoichiometry and chemical kinetics. Homogeneous reactors: isothermal operation; batch; semi-batch; continuous tank; plug flow reactor design. Continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTRs) in series; plug flow reactor with recycle. Multiple reactions in reactor networks. Temperature effects in adiabatic and non-isothermal reactors. Yield, selectivity and optimal operation of reactors. Heterogeneous catalysis and effectiveness factors in two-phase reactors.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 3A
- Enrolled in H-Chemical Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4387 | 0 / 72 | M 08:30–10:20 W 08:30–09:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1769 | 50 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4457 | 0 / 72 | W 09:30–10:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
80% liked it68% easy93% useful
From 15 ratings and 6 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Hard class, but not bad when you recognize the patterns.
Sep 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
This course feels really repetitive at times. I kinda checked out for a few weeks and still felt confident for the final after studying for a few days. It's not always the most intuitive course, but I found that Croiset grades pretty fairly.
Sep 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
griefed by david simakov
May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The course may seem pretty difficult at first, but eventually, you will realize that you kind of just go through the exact same procedure for every question. Take things little by little and it will be pretty easy to understand everything.
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
MT/Final are easy if you practice from the textbook, quizzes can be a bit tricky, the homework is generally not worth losing your mind over as they are worth 5% across 10 assignments. Open book mt/final, it is useful to make reference sheets despite it being open book as there are many design equations that can be used
May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
6 posts and comments in 6 threads mention CHE 314, April 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2021
Chem eng people, what was your experience in 3A? 4 points, 5 comments
“I'm a little bit nervous about the upcoming 3A term. Was your experience? I've heard mixed reviews, Any advice?”
u/deluxepotate: “3A was definitely the toughest in my opinion but it really depends on your profs! Who do you have this term?”
u/curemoki: “CHE 314 - Chemical Reaction Engineering David Simakov CHE 312 - Math of Heat & Mass Transfer Qinqin Zhu CHE 322 - Num Methd Process Anls Desgn Syed Taqvi CHE 330 - Chemical Eng Thermodynamics Yuning Li I think they're all new bc I couldnt find any info on them on uflow”
Winter 2020
Upper CHEM ENG CHE 314 5 points, 4 comments
u/Taco220: “Hey any year upper chem eng who had Eric Croiset for the reaction course CHE 314. What was the final like. Our class average was 78 % on the midterm, should final exam be of the same difficulty, as well as where there any pre midterm questions.”
Winter 2017
Final Grades Discussion Megathread 40 points, 144 comments
“Passed everything Still waiting on ENGL306A and ECON102. But passed every core course!!!”
u/mudkip325: “ChE 314 definitely curved. Thank mr goose”
Spring 2016
Corrections to This Engineering Courses Spreadsheet Needed? (Further information in comments) 9 points, 20 comments
u/set-yourself-on-fire: “… In CHE 3A column you have CHE 312 twice, one should be CHE 314. Also CHE 425 for CHE isn't taken as a core course in 4A. The stream 4's can take it in 4A or 4B, and the stream 8's can take in in 3B or 4B. …”
Which Chem E course teaches material balance? 0 points, 1 comment
“What is the course code for the course that focuses on material balances (with reactions and such)? Thnx”
u/Ruskz: “… ChE 314 has to do with reactions in addition to mass balances. This class required some ODE stuff, but doesn't focuses on the application rather than the math. Also ChE 100 and 101 introduce the topic of mass balance, but it isn't difficult to grasp. …”
Winter 2016
Free Talk Friday 16 points, 105 comments
“Welcome to Free Talk Friday, where you are able to talk about whatever you want. Please keep it respectful and remember that subreddit rules still apply.”
u/PurpleCheshireCat: “No clue what is happening in ChE 314 so screwed”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them