CHEM 200Introduction to Laboratory Techniques
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Chemistry
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
This course is an introduction to practical laboratory skills. Laboratory techniques will include: the separation, isolation and purification of compounds (through extraction, reflux, distillation, chromatography, and recrystallization), analysis techniques, and the application of these techniques in synthesis. The subjects covered in this biweekly laboratory provide the foundation for more advanced laboratory courses and the basic training needed for an industrial or research laboratory position. The seminar portion of this course will focus on communication and technical skills; the latter will include analysis of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), use of search engines, and learning of citation formats.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
- Students must be in level 2A
- Enrolled in H-Biochemistry, H-Biochemistry - Biotechnology Specialization, H-Chemistry, JH-Chemistry, H-Chemistry - Computational Specialization, or H-Medicinal Chemistry
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEM 101 | 7267 | 142 / 144 | M 10:30–11:20 |
| LAB 001 | 7265 | 72 / 72 | Sep 16 14:30–17:20 Sep 30 14:30–17:20 Oct 21 14:30–17:20 Nov 4 14:30–17:20 Nov 18 14:30–17:20 Dec 2 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 002 | 7266 | 70 / 72 | Sep 23 14:30–17:20 Oct 7 14:30–17:20 Oct 28 14:30–17:20 Nov 11 14:30–17:20 Nov 25 14:30–17:20 Dec 2 14:30–17:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
80% liked it94% easy81% useful
From 25 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
This was a pretty relaxing and easy course as long as you manage to stay on top of due dates, as there are a few small assignments that are easy to forget about but don't take all that much work. Labs were all pretty easy and I found them to be pretty enjoyable, but get used to running TLC because you'll be doing it a lot! Practical exam was fair and drew from the previous lab experiments. Please go to seminar and be active in your group, participation and attendance are worth marks and it makes it more enjoyable for everyone. Overall, a pretty fun "easy" course as a bit of a palate cleanser in the fairly difficult 2A semester of a chem course.
Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
This class has 2 components a seminar portion and a component that introduces you to organic Lab techniques. Very useful for upper year chem labs.
Mar 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
This course is just like 121L but as an organic focused lab. Super easy, Julie is nice
Dec 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
The coursework was light and the labs were fun. The lab's covered techniques in organic chemistry, but we did not do any major reactions, just extracting mixtures, identifying components in a mixture with TLC, or distilling liquid. We also had to develop our own procedure for the labs using the background information and guidelines provided, but this wasn't too difficult, just a bit time-consuming. The seminar part of this course helps with gaining some teamwork experience to mention in co-op interviews (if you are put into a decent group that meets every week).
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Honestly this was a decent course, not difficult. Only annoying thing is that this teaches all the organic lab techniques and then it feels like you're redoing the same lab.
Nov 2019 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
15 posts and comments in 8 threads mention CHEM 200, March 2017 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.
Fall 2023
Bird Science Courses 4 points, 11 comments
“Hi, does anyone have recommendations on bird science courses in the 200, and 300 levels( (excluding BIOL 225, BIOL 280/PHYS 280, and SCI units) ? …”
u/Picolloo: “… CHEM 200, if you put effort in, read thoroughly, pay attention to the prelab talk, and keep track of assignments — a 90 is easily possible.”
Spring 2022
Looking for CHEM 200 level courses suggestions/ Science and Aviation program 3 points, 14 comments
u/Ehsan2023: “Hi guys, Im starting my first year as a second year student at waterloo this fall for science and aviation program. Im looking for a chem course that is relatively easy to take as I need to fulfill the 200 level courses requirement. …”
Spring 2020
cant add CHEM 266L in course selections 1 point, 7 comments
“I'm trying to add the course but im getting an error saying i dont have the requisites for it. I have the prereq (and i passed it with flying colours), I have CHEM 266 in my cart for it's co-req, and …”
u/VirtualMagenta: “Same for CHEM 200, 220, and 220L”
Fall 2019
Medicinal Chemistry 6 points, 10 comments
“Anyone in upper year that knows what its like? Course load for second year ? Coop? Thanks !”
u/asymmetric_synthesis: “… I don't know why they substituted that with chem 200”
Spring 2018
Maintaining a high average in 300/400 level biology courses 1 point, 14 comments
u/alleles1994: “… This fall I'm taking BIOL 308, BIOL 309, STAT 202 and I'm trying to decide whether I should take BIOL 301, BIOL 345 or BIOL 469 and some chem 200 course. From what I've heard, BIOL 309 and BIOL 308 are really difficult to matinain a high average in. …”
Spring 2017
Suggestion on which Chem 2nd level course to take? 2 points, 18 comments
u/bigboy699669: “Due to chem 200 being remove, any upper years have a chem course that has material that is easily grasped. Any course that can be a gpa booster? Already taking 220 and 264. Thanks”
u/tastelessfool: “Chem 221? (I'm trying to find another course to replace chem 200 too lol)”
u/TicklezPanda: “Consider CHEM 254 - Intro Thermodynamics.”
u/bigboy699669: “Just realized that im taking CHEM 254 next term which mean i think i have to pick CHEM 209 to replace CHEM 200”
Can't find Chem 200 in course selection 2 points, 4 comments
u/theblackatp: “I'm supposed to be enrolled in chem 200 in fall but I can't seem to find it when selecting a course. Does any else have this problem?”
u/SpaceBuilder: “what even is chem 200?”
u/tastelessfool: “Chem 200 is a new course and I believe it's not available yet. You can take chem 209 or another chem course at the 200 level to make up for it.”
Winter 2017
Is this too much? [Serious] 0 points, 10 comments
u/IcyTarget: “I'm taking CHEM264, PHYS121, MNS101, CHEM 200, and SCBUS223 in Fall 2017. Is this too much?”
u/cramopener: “Is Chem 264 required for SciBus? 266 is the version for anyone not in chem-type programs, so you may consider that if you're worried about courseload. 264 has something like a 40% fail rate, if I recall. edit: not sure SciBus can take Chem 200 either.”
u/IcyTarget: “CHEM264 is a requirement, I wanna see if I can get an exception for CHEM200, it seems like a really interesting course!”
u/zwitterionz: “You definitely are not required to take chem 264 in scibus (unless there is some special case i'm not aware of) and as far as i know (which is not much), chem 200 is not a course at uw?? …”
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