uwloo

CHEM 404Physicochemical Aspects of Natural Waters

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: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Properties of water; chemicals in the environment; environmental fate of inorganic and organic pollutants; basic phenomena affecting the fate of water pollutants (vapor pressure; activity, solubility, partitioning, diffusion, sorption); acids and bases in water; dissolved carbon dioxide; trace metals in water.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CHEM123 - General Chemistry 2 (0.50)
      • CHEM125 - Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CHEM254 - Introductory Chemical Thermodynamics (0.50)
      • CHEM257 - Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CHEM262 - Organic Chemistry for Engineering (0.50)
      • CHEM264 - Organic Chemistry 1 (0.50)
      • CHEM266 - Basic Organic Chemistry 1 (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

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 001791529 / 40TTh 13:00–14:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

0% liked it8% easy75% useful

From 4 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • The presentation was the only part I hated in the course. Otherwise the content was pretty interesting and explained a few other concepts found in other chemistry courses. This is a thermodynamics course, so expect formulas and math.

    Dec 2019 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

36 posts and comments in 26 threads mention CHEM 404, September 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.

Spring 2024

Program Electives 3 points, 0 comments

u/Luvvul1234: “… CHEM 404 - Physicochemical Aspects of Natural Waters CHEM 400 - Miniaturization and Nanoscience/Nanotechnology to Artificial Intelligence in Analytical Chemistry CHEM 481 - Rational Drug Design CHEM 432 - Metabolism 2 Do they involve a lot of orgo? …”

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Fall 2022

CHEM 404 syllabus 3 points, 4 comments

u/rasberrypickles: “Hey done anyone have the grade breakdown? Debating on weather to take it or not”

u/Penguins_NKK: “I did Environmental Science with a chemistry minor and took Chem 404 at the same time as Earth 458 (Chemical Hydrogeology) Bit of a waste as over 50% of the lectures overlapped topics. Same calculations, different letters! …”

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Spring 2022

Spring 2021

CHEM 404 vs CHEM 370 2 points, 9 comments

u/person297: “I'm trying to determine whether to take CHEM 404 or CHEM 370 online in the Fall 2021 term. I've read a lot of reviews saying CHEM 404 is hard do to well in, but haven't heard anything about CHEM 370. Any thoughts or recommendations?? …”

u/katptz: “hey i’m kinda in the same boat as you, need one of these for my minor as well and as of right now im enrolled in 404 but i honestly havent heard anything about both but i thought 404 looked …”

u/person297: “… Do you think it'd be possible to take it in the same term and if so do you think CHEM 430 would be harder than CHEM 404 and CHEM 370? …”

u/kemiztrie: “… I haven't taken CHEM 404 but I've heard it is hard.”

u/person297: “Were the derivations super challenging or were they basic derivations? Also, a different prof is teaching it in the fall term so idk if he would give hints for exams. I'm not sure if I should take CHEM 370 or CHEM 404”

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Online Classes Fall 2021 Question 1 point, 6 comments

“I'm a part time student working full time. Over the past few terms I was taking advantage of the fact that there were no scheduled lecture times for the courses I was taking. …”

u/aLostKey: “Dependent on both course and faculty. Post needs more info”

u/GGwarms: “It's Phys 474 and Chem 404, faculty of science”

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Chem 481 or chem 404? 1 point, 7 comments

u/sarahpharaon: “… I was considering taking chem 404 but after I heard a lot of people found it hard I’m thinking about chem 418 now. Not sure which one would be better to take since both seem to be quite challenging to handle along with a bunch of other 400 level courses I have to take. …”

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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”

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Winter 2021

Chem 404 1 point, 9 comments

u/Nice_Raccoon_4753: “How is Chem 404? I am planning on taking it in the fall since they aren't that many 4th-year chem courses available.”

u/Thefanciestnoodle: “It was kind of horrible. Would not recommend. Midterm class average was below 50%, and I had a friend who took it later who had a tough time as well. …”

u/Thefanciestnoodle: “… Sorry not trying to scare you, I was just really excited for Chem 404 and it ended up being more stressful than I thought. …”

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Spring 2020

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar