CHEM 264Organic Chemistry 1
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Chemistry
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Structure and bonding in organic chemistry. Isomerism and stereoisomerism in organic compounds. Acidity of organic compounds and substituent effects on acidity. Reaction mechanisms and energetics. Chemistry of alkanes, haloalkanes, alcohols and ethers, alkenes and alkynes.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
Leads to
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6988 | 169 / 200 | MWF 12:30–13:20 |
| TUT 101 | 7240 | 169 / 200 | F 14:30–15:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
67% liked it16% easy92% useful
From 81 ratings and 21 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Say good bye to your grades for this course! I feel Chong makes this course harder than it should be his slides/annotation were all over the place. I had to more often than not teach myself the course through websites and the text book. That being said despite being taught by Chong I liked the course a lot.
Dec 2014 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Pepper your angus...
Apr 2017 · liked it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Orgo has a reputation of being a very challenging course, which I think is somewhat deserved given what I saw happening around me. That being said, it's perfectly possible to do really well in the course if you put in the time to study it. You really don't want to fall behind in the first month or two as everything builds upon the previous content and it's really important to understand the fundamentals when you're doing sub/elim reactions, although that's easier said than done because if you're taking this in 2A like most chem students it's a pretty tough semester. If you're taking with Forsey, I'd recommend doing the Kritik because it forced me to practice and really think about why an…
Dec 2025 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Foundational course for all chem-related programs. It is not as difficult as people hype it up to be. Do every practice question for each module. Acid-base, resonance, and stereochem is foundational for the rest of the course. If you struggle with that, get help ASAP or else it's over.
Know when your SN1/SN2/E2/E1 reactions occur and WHY they occur. In the later modules avoid memorizing the reaction products/results only (despite there being a lot); learn and draw out the mechanisms. It helps a lot (the only part where I memorized are the redox reactions, whose mechanisms are much more complex and so it's better to memorize the products).
Do not skimp out on theory, ESPECIALLY the…Aug 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Content is covered extremely fast, definitely recommend printing of the slides and bringing them to class because no notes are posted, you basically have to read the textbook every week to understand, and teach yourself all the material before the midterms/exam. Past exams are posted with no solutions so you're kinda just in the dark about everything.. If you take it in 2A, it will be the hardest course you've taken yet and add a lot of stress to your plate. Prof says not to memorize but that's all I did..
Dec 2018 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
176 posts and comments in 145 threads mention CHEM 264, February 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 2024
CHEM 264 URGENT HELP!!!! 3 points, 0 comments
u/leprechaun1012: “If anyone is taking CHEM264 this semester and can help me for the exam pleaseeeeeee comment. I am in dire need of someone to study with😭😭😭”
biochem at waterloo 3 points, 2 comments
“Hi! I’m applying to university this fall for biochemistry/life sciences and I'm having trouble deciding which school to choose. …”
u/vimeomaster54: “… space, but also due to the straight difficulty of some of their required courses (CHEM 140, CHEM 264, CHEM 265, etc.) It's much more of a chem program than a bio program, so if you were looking for a balance between the two, you're not going to find it there. …”
Spring 2024
chem 264 or 266 1 point, 1 comment
u/Stunning-Composer-85: “i'm planning out my courses until my last year (im currently about to start 2A), and i intend to aim for US medical schools. organic chem is a required prereq, but im not sure which one to choose??? 264 is organic chem 1 and 266 is basic organic chem 1. …”
any advice for chem 264? 5 points, 0 comments
Can I do Orgo after CHEM 266/267 1 point, 2 comments
“Hi there. I am in honours science, I just finished 266 and 267 which is basic organic chemistry 1 and 2. I got a 69 and 67 for them. …”
u/DwarvesInATrenchcoat: “To my knowledge Chem 360 requires that you have taken the non-basic organic chemistry courses of Chem 264 & 265 to be allowed to take them. That being said, talk to a chemistry advisor as you may be able to override the requirement. …”
Winter 2024
uwaterloo med chem 1 point, 1 comment
“so i just applied to the university of waterloo under the med chem program. the reason i chose this program is because of how chemistry heavy it is, i am currently taking a-level chem and i really …”
u/HeadBreak2610: “… You would have covered all of first year chem and Organic chemistry 1 (chem 264) and parts of 265 as well which is organic 2. CHEM 212 with Sonny Lee is something else indeed, this portion is not touched upon at all in Alevels because it’s too challenging, at that age. …”
waterloo chem 3 points, 1 comment
“Trying to decide between going to TMU or Waterloo for chem. Does anyone here know which one will prepare me for grad school better? Im either gonna go into pharmacy or do something in chem. …”
u/MysteriousAura: “… For example, as a chemistry major orgo 1 and 2 are CHEM 264 and 265, respectively, while there's CHEM 266 and 267 which is for life science majors (chem version is written exams while it's mcq for the other version). Just something to keep in mind. …”
Fall 2023
CHEM 264 3 points, 0 comments
u/miwa_1818: “Did you guys pass?”
Chem 264 2 points, 0 comments
u/Jxrden_Boi: “thoughts on the final ?”
Spring 2023
CHEM 266 versus CHEM 264 for US med school 1 point, 1 comment
u/Lynx-Primary: “University of Waterloo in Canada offers CHEM 266 (Basic Organic Chem 1) and CHEM 264 (Organic Chem 1). As an individual aspiring to attend a US med school, I was wondering it CHEM 266 will fulfill the ochem requirement.”
Winter 2023
First years 254 points, 50 comments
“I thought the first years would’ve been humbled by now from their midterms, but god damn. Not only is this batch of first year statistically more stupid (would use stronger language, but will …”
u/Jxrden_Boi: “as a science first year, i’d say around 95% of my peers have definitely been humbled, almost desensitized to failure”
u/Mortentia: “I will say that I loved the atmosphere in Science at Waterloo. It’s super different from the other degree paths, but tbh it’s probably because everyone had their cheeks clapped by Phys 122, Chem 264, or that second Bio class they needed in 1B (genetics is cracked).”
Fall 2022
CHEM 264 Final… help pls 2 points, 2 comments
u/WorkerAdministrative: “So… I need a 45% on the final to pass the class. Usually this wouldn’t be awful, pretty much just need to pass (I’ve gotten above the average/passing grade on the midterms) but I’m so scared I’m not going to get this on the final. To anyone that has taken 264 with Chong…. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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