The IIT JAM Chemistry Exam 2025 is conducted as part of the Joint

Admission Test for Masters (JAM) to offer admission to postgraduate

programs in prestigious institutions like IITs, IISc, and NITs. Below is an
overview of the exam for Chemistr

Exam Highlights

Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT).

Duration: 3 hours.

Medium: English.

Total Marks: 100.

Questions: 60 questions divided into three sections (MCQ, MSQ, and

NAT).

Question Pattern

Marking Scheme

Total Marks: 100 (divided into 60 questions).

Negative Marking: Only applicable for Section A (MCQs).

For 1-mark questions: -0.33.

For 2-mark questions: -0.67.

Preparation Tips

Focus on Concepts:

Revise fundamental theories and mechanisms.

Practice numerical problems daily.

Standard Books:

Physical Chemistry: P.W. Atkins, K.L. Kapoor.

Organic Chemistry: Morrison & Boyd, Paula Y. Bruice.

Inorganic Chemistry: J.D. Lee, Cotton & Wilkinson.

Mock Tests:

Solve previous year question papers and mock tests regularly.

Time Management:

Allocate time for each section while practicing.

Prioritize topics based on weightage.

Important Dates for JAM 2025

Online Application Start: Likely in September 2024.

Admit Card Release: January 2025.

Exam Date: February 2025.

Results Announcement: March 2025.

Weightage Distribution (Approximation)

Physical Chemistry: 35-40%

Topics like Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Chemical Kinetics,

Electrochemistry, and Spectroscopy are heavily emphasized.

Numerical problems are common in this section.

Organic Chemistry: 30-35%

Covers Reaction Mechanisms, Stereochemistry, Named Reactions, and

Biomolecules.

Conceptual questions and mechanisms are dominant.

Inorganic Chemistry: 25-30%

Includes topics such as Coordination Chemistry, Periodic Trends, Main

Group Chemistry, and Transition Elements.
Questions are typically factual and conceptual.

Based on the analysis of IIT JAM Chemistry previous years’ papers,

certain topics are consistently emphasized. Here’s a breakdown by
branch:

Physical Chemistry

Thermodynamics:

Laws of thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, entropy.

Heat capacity, enthalpy changes, and Carnot cycle.

Chemical Kinetics:

Rate laws, Arrhenius equation, collision theory.

First-order and second-order reactions.

Quantum Chemistry:

Schrodinger equation, particle in a box.

Molecular orbital theory.

Electrochemistry:

Nernst equation, conductance, and cell potentials.

Spectroscopy:

Rotational, vibrational, and electronic transitions.

Organic Chemistry

Reaction Mechanisms:

SN1, SN2, E1, E2 reactions.

Aromatic electrophilic and nucleophilic substitutions.

Named Reactions:
Aldol condensation, Cannizzaro reaction, Perkin reaction.

Diels-Alder reaction, Claisen rearrangement.

Stereochemistry:

Chirality, optical activity, and conformational analysis.

Biomolecules:

Structure of amino acids, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Organic Spectroscopy:

IR, NMR, and Mass Spectrometry basics.

Inorganic Chemistry

Periodic Trends:

Ionization energy, atomic and ionic radii, electronegativity.

Coordination Chemistry:

Crystal Field Theory (CFT), ligands, and hybridization.

Spectrochemical series.

Main Group Chemistry:

Oxides, hydrides, and halides of group elements.

Transition Elements:

Oxidation states, magnetic properties, and color.

Bioinorganic Chemistry:

Role of metals in biological systems (e.g., hemoglobin).

Consistently Asked Topics

From Physical Chemistry:

Thermodynamics, Quantum Chemistry, and Electrochemistry.

From Organic Chemistry:

Reaction Mechanisms and Named Reactions.

From Inorganic Chemistry:

Coordination Chemistry and Periodic Table trends.

Strategy:

Focus on high-yield topics like Thermodynamics, Coordination

Chemistry, and Organic mechanisms.

Review previous years’ papers to spot recurring patterns.

Below is a sample IIT JAM Chemistry question paper with proper

explanations and answers. The paper adheres to the IIT JAM style.

Sample Question Paper

Section A (MCQs)

Q1. The half-life of a first-order reaction is 20 minutes. What is the rate

constant ()?

Solution:

For a first-order reaction:

T_{1/2} = \frac{\ln 2}{k}

K = \frac{\ln 2}{t_{1/2}} = \frac{0.693}{20 \times 60} = 5.78 \times

10^{-4} , \text{s}^{-1} ] Answer: (d)

Q2. Which of the following statements about the Crystal Field Theory
(CFT) is correct?
Splitting of d-orbitals is greater in tetrahedral fields compared to
octahedral fields.

In an octahedral field, the and orbitals experience higher energy.

© Ligands with a high field strength decrease the crystal field splitting
energy ().

In a tetrahedral field, all five d-orbitals remain degenerate.

Statement (b) is correct: In an octahedral field, and form the set, which
has higher energy than the set.

(a), (c), and (d) are incorrect based on CFT concepts.

Answer: (b)

Section B (MSQs)

Q3. Identify the correct statements about nucleophiles:

NH₃ acts as a nucleophile because of its lone pair.

OH⁻ is a strong nucleophile in water.

© H⁺ is a nucleophile.

CN⁻ can act as a nucleophile.

(a), (b), and (d) are correct because NH₃, OH⁻, and CN⁻ donate electron
pairs to electrophiles.

© is incorrect because H⁺ is an electrophile, not a nucleophile.

Answer: (a), (b), (d)

Q4. Which of the following compounds undergo electrophilic

substitution reactions?

Benzene

Phenol
© Acetylene

Cyclohexane

Benzene and phenol are aromatic and readily undergo electrophilic

substitution reactions.

Acetylene undergoes addition reactions rather than substitution.

Cyclohexane undergoes free radical reactions.

Answer: (a), (b)

Section C (NAT)

Q5. Calculate the pH of a 0.01 M solution.

\text{pH} = -\log [\text{H}^+]

\text{pH} = -\log (0.01) = 2 ]

Answer: 2

Q6. The wavelength of a photon required to excite an electron in a

hydrogen atom from to is approximately:

Energy difference is given by:

\Delta E = R_H \left(\frac{1}{n_1^2} - \frac{1}{n_2^2}\right)

\Delta E = 2.18 \times 10^{-18} \left(\frac{1}{2^2} - \frac{1}{4^2}\

right) = 4.09 \times 10^{-19} \, \text{J}

\lambda = \frac{hc}{\Delta E} = \frac{6.626 \times 10^{-34} \times 3 \

times 10^8}{4.09 \times 10^{-19}} \approx 486 \, \text{nm}

Answer: 486 nm

Key Features

MCQs: Concept-based and require detailed understanding.

MSQs: Test multi-conceptual clarity.

NATs: Focus on numerical skills.

Feel free to ask for more examples or specific topic coverage!

Recommended Books and Resources

Organic Chemistry:

Morrison & Boyd – “Organic Chemistry”

Solomons & Fryhle – “Organic Chemistry”

M. S. Chauhan – “Organic Chemistry for Competitive Exams”

Inorganic Chemistry:

J.D. Lee – “Concise Inorganic Chemistry”

O.P. Tandon – “Inorganic Chemistry”

N.A. Jayakumar – “Inorganic Chemistry”

Physical Chemistry:

P.W. Atkins – “Physical Chemistry”

O.P. Tandon – “Physical Chemistry”

R.K. Gupta – “Physical Chemistry for Competitions”

Online Resources:

YouTube channels like “Khan Academy” for Chemistry.

Websites like “Chemistry Help” and online mock tests.

Study Strategy for Chemistry

Understanding Concepts: Focus on understanding the core principles of

chemistry rather than memorizing.

Regular Practice: Solve problems from each topic to build conceptual

clarity and improve problem-solving skills.
Revision: Regularly revise important topics, especially Organic Reaction
Mechanisms and Inorganic Chemistry concepts.

Solve Previous Papers: Work through past JAM exam papers and mock
tests to get a feel for the question pattern.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring NCERT: For Inorganic Chemistry, the NCERT textbooks are

very useful, especially for topics like periodicity and chemical bonding.

Skipping Revision: Without revision, concepts can get forgotten quickly.

Overloading with Resources: Stick to one or two main books per topic
and use online resources for revision.

Underestimating Practice: Theory alone won’t help; practice solving

problems regularly

Commonly Asked Questions in JAM Chemistry

Organic Chemistry: Reaction mechanisms (e.g., SN1, SN2), functional

group transformations.

Inorganic Chemistry: Periodic trends, transition metal chemistry, and

coordination complexes.

Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamic equations, rate laws, and mole

calculations.

Sample Question:

Organic: Predict the product of the following reaction: CH3-CH2OH →

(oxidizing agent) → [Product].

Inorganic: Calculate the lattice energy of NaCl given its structure.

Physical: Determine the rate constant for a reaction from experimental

data