NSEC Syllabus

In addition to following, general understanding of Science topics studied till

Class 10 and Mathematics topics studied till Class 12 is expected.

I. Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry

General Introduction: Importance and scope of chemistry.
Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton's atomic theory: concept of
elements, atoms and molecules.
Atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition,
empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations
based on stoichiometry.

II. Structure of Atom

Bohr's model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and
light, de Broglie's relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals,
quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals -
Aufbau principle, Pauli's exclusion principle and Hund's rule, electronic configuration of
atoms, stability of half-filled and completely filled orbitals.

III. Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

Modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties
of elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain
enthalpy, electronegativity, valency. Nomenclature of elements with atomic number
greater than 100

IV. Chemical Bonding and Molecular structure

Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar
character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory,
resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization,
involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital
theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), hydrogen bond.

V. States of Matter: Gases and Liquids

Three states of matter, intermolecular interactions, types of bonding, melting and
boiling points, role of gas laws in elucidating the concept of the molecule, Boyle's law,
Charles law, Gay Lussac's law, Avogadro's law, ideal behaviour, empirical derivation of
gas equation, Avogadro's number, ideal gas equation.
Deviation from ideal behaviour, liquefaction of gases, critical temperature, kinetic energy
and molecular speeds (elementary idea)
Liquid State: vapour pressure, viscosity and surface tension (qualitative idea
only, no mathematical derivations)

VI. States of Matter: Solid State

 Classification of solids based on different binding forces: molecular, ionic, covalent
and metallic solids, amorphous and crystalline solids (elementary idea). Unit cell in
two dimensional and three dimensional lattices, calculation of density of unit cell,
packing in solids, packing efficiency, voids, number of atoms per unit cell in a cubic
unit cell, point defects.

VII. Chemical Thermodynamics

Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive
and intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics
-internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat, measurement of ∆U and
∆H, Hess's law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion,
formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution.
Second law of Thermodynamics (brief
introduction).Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb's energy change for
spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes, criteria for equilibrium.
Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).

VIII. Equilibrium
Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of
mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium- Le Chatelier's principle,
ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of
ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, Henderson
Equation, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, solubility product,
common ion effect (with illustrative examples).

IX. Solutions
Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids,
solubility of gases in liquids, solid solutions, colligative properties - relative lowering of
vapour pressure, Raoult's law, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point,
osmotic pressure, determination of molecular masses using colligative properties,
abnormal molecular mass, Van't Hoff factor.

X. Electrochemistry
Redox reactions: Concept of oxidation and reduction, oxidation number, balancing redox
reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number,
applications of redox reactions. Conductance in electrolytic solutions, specific and molar
conductivity, variations of conductivity with concentration, Kohlrausch's Law,
electrolysis and law of electrolysis (elementary idea), dry cell-electrolytic cells and
Galvanic cells, lead accumulator, EMF of a cell, standard electrode potential, Nernst
equation and its application to chemical cells, Relation between Gibbs energy change
and EMF of a cell, fuel cells, corrosion.

XI. Chemical Kinetics

Rate of a reaction (Average and instantaneous), factors affecting rate of reaction:
concentration, temperature, catalyst; order and molecularity of a reaction, rate law
 and specific rate constant, integrated rate equations and half-life (only for zero and
first order reactions), concept of collision theory (elementary idea, no mathematical
treatment). Activation energy, Arrhenius equation.

XII. Surface Chemistry

Adsorption - physisorption and chemisorption, factors affecting adsorption of gases on
solids, catalysis, homogenous and heterogenous activity and selectivity; enzyme catalysis
colloidal state distinction between true solutions, colloids and suspension; lyophilic,
lyophobic multi-molecular and macromolecular colloids; properties of colloids; Tyndall
effect, Brownian movement, electrophoresis, coagulation, emulsion - types of emulsions.

XIII. s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals)

Position of hydrogen in periodic table, occurrence, isotopes, preparation, properties and
uses of hydrogen, hydrides-ionic covalent and interstitial; physical and chemical
properties of water, heavy water, hydrogen peroxide - preparation, reactions and
structure and use; hydrogen as a fuel.
Group 1 and Group 2 Elements General introduction, electronic configuration,
occurrence, anomalous properties of the first element of each group, diagonal
relationship, trends in the variation of properties (such as ionization enthalpy, atomic and
ionic radii), trends in chemical reactivity with oxygen, water, hydrogen and halogens,
uses.
Preparation and properties of some important compounds: Sodium Carbonate,
Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydrogencarbonate, Biological
importance of Sodium and Potassium.
Calcium Oxide and Calcium Carbonate and their industrial uses, biological
importance of Magnesium and Calcium.

XIV. p -Block Elements

General Introduction to p -Block Elements

Group 13 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence,

variation of properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous
properties of first element of the group, Boron - physical and chemical properties, some
important compounds, Borax, Boric acid, Boron Hydrides,
Aluminium: Reactions with acids and alkalies, uses.
Group 14 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of
properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, anomalous behaviour of first elements.
Carbon-catenation, allotropic forms, physical and chemical properties; uses of some important
compounds: oxides.
Important compounds of Silicon and a few uses: Silicon Tetrachloride, Silicones, Silicates
and Zeolites, their uses.

Group -15 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence,

oxidation states, trends in physical and chemical properties; Nitrogen preparation
properties and uses; compounds of Nitrogen: preparation and properties of Ammonia
and Nitric Acid.
 Group 16 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states,
occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties, dioxygen: Preparation, Properties
and uses, classification of Oxides, Ozone, Sulphur -allotropic forms; compounds of
Sulphur: Preparation Properties and uses of Sulphur-dioxide, Sulphuric Acid: industrial
process of manufacture, properties and uses; Oxoacids of Sulphur (Structures only).

Group 17 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states,

occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties; compounds of halogens,
Preparation, properties and uses of Chlorine and Hydrochloric acid, interhalogen
compounds, Oxoacids of halogens (structures only).
Group 18 Elements: General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence,
trends in physical and chemical properties, uses.

XV. ‘d’ and ‘f’ Block Elements

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics of
transition metals, general trends in properties of the first row transition metals -
metallic character, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic
property, magnetic properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and
properties of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.
Lanthanoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and
lanthanoid contraction and its consequences.
Actinoids - Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanoids.

XVI. General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements

Principles and methods of extraction - concentration, oxidation, reduction
-electrolytic method and refining; occurrence and principles of extraction of
aluminium, copper, zinc and iron

XVII. Coordination Compounds

Coordination compounds - Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic
properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds.
Bonding, Werner's theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, importance of
coordination compounds (in qualitative inclusion, extraction of metals and biological
system).

XVIII. Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative
analysis, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds.
Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect,
resonance and hyperconjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond:
free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic
reactions.

XIX. Hydrocarbons
Classification of Hydrocarbons
 Aliphatic Hydrocarbons:
Alkanes - Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical
properties, chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation,
combustion and pyrolysis.
Alkenes - Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism,
physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen,
halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markownikov's addition and peroxide effect),
ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition.
Alkynes - Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods
of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of -
hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water.
Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance,
aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration,
sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive
influence of functional group in monosubstituted benzene. Carcinogenicity and
toxicity.

XX. Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature, nature of C-X bond, physical and chemical
properties, mechanism of substitution reactions, optical rotation.
Haloarenes: Nature of C-X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of
halogen in monosubstituted compounds only).
Uses and environmental effects of - dichloromethane, trichloromethane,
tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT.

XXI. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Alcohols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties (of
primary alcohols only), identification of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols,
mechanism of dehydration, uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol.
Phenols: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties,
acidic nature of phenol, electrophilic substitution reactions, uses of phenols.
Ethers: Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses.

XXII. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes and Ketones: Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of
preparation, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition,
reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes, uses.
Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical
and chemical properties; uses.

XXIII. Organic compounds containing Nitrogen

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical
and chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary
amines. Cyanides and Isocyanides - preparation and reactions.
Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic
 organic chemistry.

XXIV. Biomolecules
Carbohydrates - Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccharides (glucose and
fructose), D-L configuration oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose), polysaccharides
(starch, cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates.
Proteins -Elementary idea of - amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins,
structure of proteins - primary, secondary, tertiary structure and quaternary structures
(qualitative idea only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones - Elementary idea
excluding structure. Vitamins - Classification and functions. Nucleic Acids: DNA and
RNA.

XXV. Polymers
Copolymerization, some important polymers: natural and synthetic like polythene,
nylon, polyesters, bakelite, rubber. Biodegradable and non- biodegradable polymers.

XXVI. Environmental Chemistry

Environmental pollution - air, water and soil pollution, chemical reactions in atmosphere,
smog, major atmospheric pollutants, acid rain, ozone and its reactions, effects of
depletion of ozone layer, greenhouse effect and global warming- pollution due to
industrial wastes, green chemistry as an alternative tool for reducing pollution, strategies
for control of environmental pollution.

XXVII. Chemistry in Everyday life

Chemicals in medicines - analgesics, tranquilizers, antiseptics, disinfectants,
antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, antihistamines.
Chemicals in food - preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, elementary
idea of antioxidants.Cleansing agents- soaps and detergents, cleansing action.