uwloo

NE 121Chemical Principles

Units
0.50
Faculty
Engineering
Subject
Nanotechnology Engineering

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.

Chemical reactions. Mass and charge balance. Introduction to the first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics. Chemical equilibrium. Applications of chemical equilibrium principles to proton-transfer reactions. Electronic structure of atoms and molecules. Periodicity and chemical bonding.

Prerequisites

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
    • CHE102 - Chemistry for Engineers (0.50)
    • CHEM120 - General Chemistry 1 (0.50)
    • CHEM123 - General Chemistry 2 (0.50)

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 001465897 / 110TTh 08:30–09:50
TTh 08:30–09:50
Sep 15 12:30–13:20
Oct 6 12:30–13:20
Nov 3 12:30–13:20
TUT 101515597 / 110M 13:30–14:20
M 13:30–14:20
TST 201536397 / 110Oct 26 08:30–10:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

71% liked it24% easy96% useful

From 83 ratings and 17 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • needs a lot of practice and attendance required but compared to other courses that you would take together in 1A, this is the easy one.(I know that it is unbelievable)

    May 2026 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • In my rendition of the course with XSW (F24), it was a logistical disaster: quizzes attaining ~47% averages, 47% average on the midterm, ambiguous questions, final exam booklets forgotten on the day of the exam, followed by a scramble for formula sheets, leaving many people without their sheet for ~an hour into the exam. Unfortunately, lectures were unintelligible and the lecture slides were a pain to slog through. Because chemistry is so important to nanotech engineers, it's unfortunate that this is the nightmare class we had to put up with in 1A.

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • So much content in such little time, one of the hardest first year courses

    Nov 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Good course. Taught by Jury Medvedev. Was a bit confusing at times. Certain topics that needed time were skimmed over and topics that didn't need as much time took too long on.

    Jun 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Brutal course, but it's because of the professor. Can be a straightforward class if taught properly. basic chemistry topics but questions get complex.

    Jan 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

6 posts and comments in 6 threads mention NE 121, October 2017 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

nanotech engineering questions 1 point, 2 comments

“I'm applying this year to waterloo and I was wondering about the nanotech program. Anything I should know about? Can I specialize in quantum computing/engineering? …”

u/Due-Analyst-7210: “… prof (they keep switching them up every year, praying no one has xiaosong wang again for NE 121). overall I like it, it feels like a pretty good program (labs are fun, we have our own building even if we don’t have any classes in there first/second year (rip), etc). …”

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Spring 2024

Fall 2023

Chemical Engineering or Nano Engineering at Waterloo? 1 point, 1 comment

“Hi, I'm a high school student student looking to apply to Waterloo Engineering, but I'm not too sure about which majors to pick. …”

u/Ok_Sea2877: “DONT DO NANO it’s so unimaginably hard 😭”

u/Ok_Sea2877: “… NE 121 is probably the hardest 1A course simply because its chem(ew) and also theres a LOT of content and it moves really fast, plus the exams are pretty rough. Idk how true this is but the prof told us that this is the hardest first year chem course in the entire school??? …”

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Fall 2022

Math 117 FINALS TIPS 6 points, 26 comments

“I am scared about this one. Its in two days midterm avg was also really bad I think like 60 something. Tips encouragement anything”

u/A1d0taku: “Do 5/6 old Math 117 finals AT LEAST. These will help you IMMENSELY! Got like 60/70s on the final because of it. …”

u/OVERTHINKerAHH: “Tips for NE 121 with Laura??”

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Spring 2021

Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… 426 MUSIC 427 MUSIC 428 MUSIC 492 NANO 701 NANO 702 NE 100 NE 101 NE 109 NE 111 NE 112 NE 121 NE 201 NE 215 NE 216 NE 220L NE 224 NE 232 NE 241 NE 302 NE 307 NE 330L NE 335 NE 336 NE 340L NE 345 NE 352 NE 353 NE 381 NE 408 NE 451 NE 454A NE 454B NE 454C NE 454D NE 461 NE 471 NE …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar