UW CHEM 162: General Chemistry III
CHEM 162 completes UW's general chemistry sequence, covering acid-base chemistry, additional aqueous equilibria, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry, with a required lab. It's the final general chemistry prerequisite before organic chemistry for pre-health and science majors.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with University of Washington. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
Acid-base equilibria and buffer calculations build directly on CHEM 152's equilibrium foundation and are even more involved. Titration curves, polyprotic acids, and buffer problems are dense. Thermodynamics and electrochemistry add their own conceptual frameworks (entropy, free energy, cell potentials) late in a fast quarter. Students who didn't fully absorb 152's equilibrium reasoning struggle from the first week.
What you'll cover
- • Acid-base chemistry and pH
- • Buffers and titration curves
- • Solubility and aqueous equilibria
- • Thermodynamics: entropy and free energy
- • Electrochemistry and cell potentials
- • Nuclear chemistry
The CHEM 162 study guide
How to study for UW CHEM 162, step by step.
- 1
Refresh CHEM 152 equilibrium before week one
CHEM 162's acid-base and buffer chemistry is equilibrium reasoning intensified. If ICE tables and the equilibrium mindset are rusty, spend the first week rebuilding them. The course assumes fluency immediately.
- 2
Map out buffer and titration problems systematically
These are dense, multi-step calculations where the setup decides everything. Practice identifying the dominant species at each stage of a titration before computing. That's where most exam points live.
- 3
Build separate frameworks for thermo and electrochem
Entropy, free energy, and cell potentials each have their own logic and land late in the quarter. Give them dedicated study blocks rather than trying to absorb them in the pre-final rush.
- 4
Work old exams against the clock
Curved exams reward speed. From the midpoint on, take past CHEM 162 exams timed and triage the problem types you miss for targeted drilling.
Today
Today's CHEM 162 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for CHEM 162. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is CHEM 162 hard?
Yes. Acid-base and buffer equilibria are dense, and thermodynamics and electrochemistry add new frameworks late in a fast quarter. Students who solidly understood CHEM 152's equilibrium reasoning have a real advantage.
What's the hardest part of CHEM 162?
Most students point to buffer and titration calculations, which are multi-step and setup-sensitive, followed by the electrochemistry and thermodynamics that arrive near the end of the quarter.
Do I need CHEM 162 before organic chemistry?
Yes. Completing the CHEM 142/152/162 sequence is the standard prerequisite path into CHEM 237 organic chemistry for pre-health and science majors.
More UW courses
CHEM 142: General Chemistry I
CHEM 142 is the first course in UW's general chemistry sequence, covering atomic structure, stoichiometry, gases, and thermochemistry with a required lab. It's a foundational course for pre-health, engineering, and science majors and one of the largest enrollments at UW.
CHEM 152: General Chemistry II
CHEM 152 is the second course in UW's general chemistry sequence, covering liquids, solids, solutions, chemical kinetics, and chemical equilibrium, with a required lab. It sits between CHEM 142 and 162 and continues the pre-health, engineering, and science pathway.