uwloo

CHEM 209Introductory Spectroscopy and Structure

Units
0.50
Faculty
Science
Subject
Chemistry

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

The nature of electromagnetic radiation and an elementary outline of quantum mechanics in one dimension. For each of microwave, infrared, Raman, electronic, photoelectron, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the nature of the molecular energy levels involved and the type of molecular information that can be obtained using it are examined.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • CHEM120 - General Chemistry 1 (0.50)
    • CHEM121 - Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter (0.50)
    • NE121 - Chemical Principles (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001712053 / 80MWF 13:30–14:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

69% liked it42% easy71% useful

From 55 ratings and 11 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Really, really cool course. Will explain a lot of basic things you never really thought about. Really need to pay attention for the first 2 units, but if you keep up and read the course notes online this is not a hard course. Great intro to spectroscopy.

    Nov 2012 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Probably not a course you take right after taking Chem 123. Build up your knowledge before tackling this course. 15% quizzes 35% midterm 50% final

    Nov 2025 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I loved this course! Hopkins is hilarious and made me want to come to class. The lectures are very confusing if you're not caught up, so make sure you stay on top of it. The hardest part of the whole course is that your only resources is what he provides on Learn, since it's very hard to find anything to read that's at our level! Hopkins provides an amazing number of resources, however, so it's definitely manageable.

    Jan 2016 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Pretty useful introductory course to spec. Material is hard to grasp at first but once you get it it should follow suit. If you don't get it go ask Hopkins he is a great guy.

    Dec 2014 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Think of this course as a bunch different topics tossed together to relate to spectroscopy. Some topics interested me while others did not. Prereqs also require only chem 120/121 before this course which I think is wildly misleading. There seemed to be a massive gap in my knowledge due to this while for everyone else it seemed to be review as some of the material was glossed over in lectures. I ended up dropping this course not too long after the midterm. It's probably better to take some other chem courses before this one.

    Dec 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

45 posts and comments in 33 threads mention CHEM 209, December 2012 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 2022

Winter 2022

Fall 2021

Spring 2021

Chem 209 0 points, 3 comments

u/sarahlovesparis: “Thoughts on Chem 209? I’m completing a minor in chem and not sure if I should add this in. I took chem 220, 221, taking chem 223 and 404. Any other chemistry course suggestions??? Or what are your thoughts on Chem 266 online”

u/hannajarvinen: “I enjoyed Chem 209! Not too heavy of a course and a fun intro to spectroscopy that doesn't go too deep into quantum mechanics :) it's not a bird course or anything but I would recommend it! 266 is suffering unless you're a sadist who likes orgo and lots of memorization”

u/sarahlovesparis: “Great I’ll stick with chem 209 cuz I definitely am not a fan of orgo. Do you recommend any other chem course? I took chem 254 which was fun.”

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Winter 2021

Easiest Chem course? 6 points, 10 comments

“Aside from Chem120 Want to hear about chem lecture classes, not the lab components”

u/3point14luong: “… 200 Levels: CHEM 209: The intro spectroscopy course. The content might be a bit confusing at first since it's many people's first exposure to quantum, but it doesn't go too in depth. Dr. Scott Hopkins usually teaches it and he is a great prof. …”

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Fall 2020

Spring 2020

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar