CHEM20020 Chemistry: Structure and Properties
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 80%: exam-heavy
- About 4 class hours a week
Is CHEM20020 hard?
CHEM20020: Harder. #22 on the hardest list for Bachelor of Science. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it’s hard (5 reviews), Final exam 80%.
What you learn
How a molecule's shape, symmetry and electrons explain its properties, and how spectroscopy measures them.
After it you can
- Classify molecules by their symmetry
- Apply molecular orbital theory to simple molecules
- Explain how common spectroscopy methods work
What you need first
CHEM10004 or “CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine, with the subject coordinator's approval”
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Tests 20%, Final exam 80%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2015–2023)
- Introduces new topics such as quantum chemistry, symmetry and organometallics. It is a step up and the exam is described as tough.
- Recent reviewers found the quantum section hard to learn from lectures and had to self-study it.
- Opinions are split: older reviews praised it as cohesive and useful, while recent ones enjoyed it less.
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 CHEM20020
Quick answers
- When is CHEM20020 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking CHEM20020?
- Needs CHEM10004 or “CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine, with the subject coordinator's approval”.
- Does CHEM20020 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 80% of the mark. Assessment: Tests 20%, Final exam 80%.
- Is CHEM20020 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: Introduces new topics such as quantum chemistry, symmetry and organometallics. It is a step up and the exam is described as tough.
- What do students say about CHEM20020?
- Introduces new topics such as quantum chemistry, symmetry and organometallics. It is a step up and the exam is described as tough. Recent reviewers found the quantum section hard to learn from lectures and had to self-study it. Opinions are split: older reviews praised it as cohesive and useful, while recent ones enjoyed it less.
- How many class hours a week does CHEM20020 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take CHEM20020 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 CHEM20020?
- 2 subjects need it first, for example CHEM30016, CHEM30017.
- Can I rate CHEM20020?
- 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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