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CHEM 313Main Group and Solid State 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 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course provides a detailed examination of the structure and bonding in main group and solid state compounds, including valence bond and molecular orbital theory for describing electronic structures, Hueckel and extended Hueckel approximations. Structures of simple solids, including close packing of spheres and derived ionic lattice types; aspects of chemical crystallography, Bravais lattices, point groups, space groups, crystal planes, and X-ray diffraction; Ionic interactions in gases and solution; the thermodynamics of acid-base interactions; descriptive chemistry and characterization of main group element compounds.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • CHEM212 - Structure and Bonding (0.50)
    • Enrolled in an Honours program

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00167440 / 60MWF 09:30–10:20
LEC 701249146 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it6% easy75% useful

From 5 ratings and 2 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Most people in my batch did better in CHEM 212 than this course, for me it worked the other way around. 212 a teaches you a set of fundamental tools which are greatly used here. This I’ll say was the course that focused more on the character tables, point groups and periodic trends side of 212. We dived into Space groups (nasty stuff), than learnt in depth about the crystalline solid state looking at Bravai lattice systems, and several different structure types ranging from rock salt to spinels. We also dived into crystallography techniques, electronic spectra and X ray diffraction. We also learnt about periodic trends in the main group section, some more acid base equilibria, frost…

    May 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Definitely a step up from CHEM 212, it is more content heavy, and we cover a lot of ground from acid base (more advance) -> main groups, -> brave lattice, crystal lattice, structure types in crystalline solids, -> bit of thermo, a bit of optics and PHYS 122 stuff -> lattice planes and miller indices, X ray diffraction Space groups and electronic structures and noodle diagrams.
    Overall learnt a lot of stuff but too much for 1 course. Definitely the bulkiest in all the inorganic courses, and grading scheme is solely based on midterms and a cumulative final

    Mar 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

20 posts and comments in 20 threads mention CHEM 313, 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.

Winter 2024

CHEM 310 and 310L?? 6 points, 1 comment

“Has anyone taken chem 310 with Sonny Lee? I took chem 212 with Sony and it was horrible. I'm hearing rumours from ppl that chem 310 is easier than chem 212, but I doubt that it will be easier with …”

u/HeadBreak2610: “Hey guys I’m in my 3A term in Waterloo studying Chemistry honors, I am just wrapping up my first real inorgo course (CHEM 313) with Dr Rodney and the final was brutal. Overall I’m doing better in 313 than in 212 with Sonny Lee, he was very tough and I got a 59 for that course. …”

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Winter 2022

Fall 2021

Chem 310 or 313 0 points, 2 comments

u/Accomplished_Tree657: “To people who have done one or both courses, Which one is easier? I can't find any current info online and just want to take the easier one of the two since I think they may be somewhat similar (both inorganic based at least)”

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Spring 2021

Chem 310 vs Chem 313 2 points, 4 comments

u/hofornickmiller: “I was originally going to take chem 313 in the winter but I really want more in-person classes because online is brutal and they’re offering 310 not 313. Should I take it instead of 313 or is 313 easier? Thank you peeps P.S. Laura Deakin is teaching it in the fall”

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Winter 2021

Spring 2020

Spring 2019

Chances of getting into a Chem/Bio masters Program? 8 points, 5 comments

“I just finished my 3A term in biochem and my grades in University so far have been kinda shit tbh. I know for masters they look at your third and fourth year grades and I managed to get a couple 80s …”

u/gangbanger69: “Shit same. Chem 212 i barely passed man and I probably will get fucked by chem 313 or chem 310 man. I kinda regret doing chemistry here since it's so damn hard 😢”

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Winter 2019

Fall 2018

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar