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CHEM 240Mathematical Methods for Chemistry

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.

Mathematical techniques useful for chemistry students. Introduction to complex numbers, plus topics chosen from: calculus; differential equations; vector spaces and vector algebra; matrices and determinants; elementary probability theory; basic group theory and symmetry. Applications to problems of chemical interest.

Prerequisites

  • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
    • MATH128 - Calculus 2 for the Sciences (0.50)
    • MATH138 - Calculus 2 for Honours Mathematics (0.50)
    • MATH148 - Calculus 2 (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

  • Not open to students enrolled in Faculty of Mathematics programs

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 001712181 / 110TTh 13:00–14:20
TUT 101735681 / 110F 15:30–16:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

58% liked it68% easy75% useful

From 24 ratings and 4 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • bit of a snoozer if you ask me

    Nov 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • best 2nd year chem course

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • CHEM 240 is such an interesting course in the sense that it's a bunch of different math disciplines thrown together seemingly at random. None of the content is particularly hard, although I do find it weird that complex numbers are the first topic and also what I consider the hardest. Make sure you're studying for the first test because it caught a lot of people off-guard, but the other ones were all pretty easy and there's no final to worry about. Show up to lecture because sometimes Dr. Hopkins will throw out bonus marks after a test.

    Dec 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • 20% quizzes 20% x 4 term tests. Quizzes you have infinite attempts. Course is mostly math you should already know. Scott Hopkins the goat. Shouldn't have any trouble passing. Term test 1 was imaginary numbers and first principles, term test 2 was calculus, term test 3 was differential equations, term test 4 was vectors and lin alg

    Nov 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

28 posts and comments in 23 threads mention CHEM 240, December 2011 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

Science Courses 4 points, 6 comments

“I am looking for some courses offered by faculty of science (i.e., with course codes: AVIA, BIOL, CHEM, EARTH, MNS, OPTOM, PHARM, PHYS, PDPHRM, SCI, SCBUS) that are available to general science …”

u/Ancient_Ad4753: “Chem 350 has a lot of math and programming potential. Chem 240 is entirely math. Chem 340 is easy and fun (basically online using your own machine)”

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Spring 2021

Fall 2020

What CHEM courses do you recommend? 2 points, 9 comments

u/Rondowida9: “… CHEM 357 Elizabeth Meiering CHEM 333 Thorsten Dieckmann CHEM 221, 323 Vassilli Karanassios CHEM 360 Eric Fillion CHEM 356 Jonathan Baugh CHEM 240 Adam Wei Tsen CHEM 370 Mario Gauthier CHEM 350 German sciani CHEM 254 Marcel Nooijen Which class+prof did you have? …”

u/3point14luong: “… CHEM 240 with Adam Wei Tsen: It's a math course for chemistry students, basically an extension of MATH 128. You'll still be dealing with differential equations, vectors, and the like. Whether you find this course easy or not will depend heavily on your math skills. …”

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Spring 2020

Chem 240 1 point, 1 comment

u/rjln: “I am thinking of taking this in the fall. I have taken math 127, 128, 106 (linear algebra), and 228 (differential equations). Although I admit the amount I retained from any of these courses is minimal (but got marks varying from 60 to 85). …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

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