CHEN20010 Material and Energy Balances
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 50%
- About 5.5 class hours a week
- 10% group work
Is CHEN20010 hard?
CHEN20010: Harder. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, You must pass the exam on its own, 5.5 class hours a week.
What you learn
Mass and energy balance calculations for chemical processes, plus the basics of process safety.
After it you can
- Solve material and energy balances
- Model flows in reacting systems with software
- Explain why process safety matters
What you need first
(MAST10006 or MAST10009 or MAST10021 or MAST10019) and (CHEM10003 or CHEM10006)
- MAST10006 Calculus 2
- MAST10009 Accelerated Mathematics 2
- MAST10021 Calculus 2: Advanced
- CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
- CHEM10006 Chemistry for Biomedicine
What it leads to
- CHEN20011 Digitisation in the Process Industries
- CHEN30001 Reactors and Catalysis
- CHEN30016 Momentum, Mass and Heat Transfer
- EVSC30009 Energy Pathways to Net-Zero
- GEOL30004 Geochemistry
Can’t be taken together with
- CHEN20007
- CHEN20008
Careers
Helps toward: Chemical engineer, Environmental engineer, Mechanical engineer, Biochemist, Biomedical Engineer, Civil engineer, Electrical engineer, Digital infrastructure engineer, Mechatronics engineer, Biotechnologist
How it’s assessed
Presentations 10%, Assignments 40%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2016–2020)
- All reviewers found it fun and engaging, with well-made lecture notes.
- There are many weekly exercise sheets. Keep up with them and the past exams become manageable.
- The lab reports were marked strictly, so expect to work hard for a high grade.
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 CHEN20010
Quick answers
- When is CHEN20010 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking CHEN20010?
- Needs (MAST10006 or MAST10009 or MAST10021 or MAST10019) and (CHEM10003 or CHEM10006).
- Does CHEN20010 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. You must pass the exam on its own. Assessment: Presentations 10%, Assignments 40%, Final exam 50%.
- Is CHEN20010 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: All reviewers found it fun and engaging, with well-made lecture notes.
- What do students say about CHEN20010?
- All reviewers found it fun and engaging, with well-made lecture notes. There are many weekly exercise sheets. Keep up with them and the past exams become manageable. The lab reports were marked strictly, so expect to work hard for a high grade.
- How many class hours a week does CHEN20010 have?
- 5.5 h a week in class
- Can I take CHEN20010 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 CHEN20010?
- 5 subjects need it first, for example CHEN20011, CHEN30001, CHEN30016, EVSC30009.
- Can I rate CHEN20010?
- 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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