CHEM10007 Fundamentals of Chemistry

University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

• Final exam 60%: exam-heavy
• About 6.5 class hours a week

Is CHEM10007 hard?

CHEM10007: About average. Makes it easier: First-year subject. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%, 1 other hurdle task, 6.5 class hours a week. The easier and harder points roughly balance out.

What you learn

Basic chemistry: matter, solutions, gases, reactions, equilibrium, acids and bases, and organic molecules.

After it you can

• Explain how matter, solutions and gases behave
• Recognise structures and groups in organic molecules
• Do basic lab work safely and write reports

What you need first

None

What it leads to

• CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
• FOOD30008 Advanced Food Analysis
• PHRM20001 Pharmacology: How Drugs Work

Can’t be taken together with

• CHEM10003 Chemistry 1

Careers

Helps toward: Biochemist, Chemical engineer

How it’s assessed

Quizzes 15%, Assignments 25%, Final exam 60%

Student reviews and ratings

Summarised from 9 students on StudentVIP (2014–2025)

• Many call it very well run and taught, and doable even with no prior chemistry background.
• The workload is heavy because it squeezes years of high school chemistry into one semester, so coverage isn't deep.
• Keep up weekly and practise problems. Tutorials and past papers help most, and the organic part of the exam is the hardest.

Read the reviews

A summary of public reviews, not scored here.

Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate CHEM10007

Quick answers

When is CHEM10007 offered?

Runs in 2026: Semester 1.

What do I need before taking CHEM10007?

No prerequisites.

Does CHEM10007 have a final exam?

Yes, the final exam is 60% of the mark. Assessment: Quizzes 15%, Assignments 25%, Final exam 60%.

Is CHEM10007 hard?

From 9 student reviews on StudentVIP: Many call it very well run and taught, and doable even with no prior chemistry background.

What do students say about CHEM10007?

Many call it very well run and taught, and doable even with no prior chemistry background. The workload is heavy because it squeezes years of high school chemistry into one semester, so coverage isn't deep. Keep up weekly and practise problems. Tutorials and past papers help most, and the organic part of the exam is the hardest.

How many class hours a week does CHEM10007 have?

6.5 h a week in class

Can I take CHEM10007 as breadth?

Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.

What can I take after CHEM10007?

3 subjects need it first, for example CHEM10003, FOOD30008, PHRM20001.

Can I rate CHEM10007?

Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.

Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026

Always confirm in the official Handbook.

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