CHEMISTRY
Subject Code: 043
Classes XI-XII (2025-26)
Rationale
The second phase of Secondary stage is the most crucial stage of school
education because at this juncture specialized discipline based, content -
oriented courses are introduced. Students reach this stage after 10 years of
general education and opt for Chemistry with a purpose of pursuing their career
in basic sciences or professional courses like medicine, engineering, technology
and study courses in applied areas of science and technology at tertiary level.
Therefore, there is a need to provide the learners with a sufficient conceptual
background of Chemistry, which will make them competent to meet the
challenges of academic and professional courses after this stage.
The new and updated curriculum is based on a disciplinary approach with rigor
and depth taking care that the syllabus is not heavy and at the same time it is
comparable to that at the international level. The pedagogy of Chemistry has
undergone tremendous changes in recent times. Many new areas like green
chemistry, material science, biomolecules, and industrial chemistry deserve to
be an integral part of the chemistry syllabus at this stage. Globally,
nomenclature of elements and compounds, symbols and units of physical
quantities recommended by scientific bodies like IUPAC and CGPM are of
immense importance and also need to be incorporated in the updated syllabus.
The proposed syllabus adequately addresses these issues.
Objectives
The curriculum of Chemistry at the second phase of Secondary stage has been
designed to:
● equip the learners with tools to understand the working of Chemistry rather
than mere facts of it;
● develop the necessary conceptual foundations of chemistry and ability to
apply them to real life situations;
● enable the learners to represent chemical phenomena at macroscopic,
molecular, and symbolic levels;
● make the learners identify patterns and form connections that underlie various
chemical phenomena;
● prepare the learners to contribute to frontier research areas related to climate
change, environmental issues, materials science, biology and medicine etc.:
● inculcate problem solving skills in the learners and integrate life skills and
values in the context of chemistry; and
● apprise learners of the interface of chemistry with other disciplines of science
such as physics, biology, geology, engineering etc.
1
, COURSE STRUCTURE
CLASS XI
THEORY
Time: 3 Hours Total Marks: 70
S. No UNIT Marks
1 Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry 7
2 Structure of Atom 9
3 Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties 6
4 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure 7
5 Chemical Thermodynamics 9
6 Equilibrium 7
7 Redox Reactions 4
8 Organic Chemistry: Some basic Principles and 11
Techniques
9 Hydrocarbons 10
TOTAL 70
Unit 1: 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.
Unit 2: Structure of Atom
Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron, atomic number, isotopes and isobars.
Thomson's model and its limitations. Rutherford's model and its limitations, 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.
Unit 3: Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, 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, valiancy, Nomenclature of elements with atomic number
greater than 100.
2
, Unit 4: 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.
Unit 5: 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).
Unit 6: 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, hydrolysis of salts
(elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion
effect (with illustrative examples).
Unit 7: Redox Reactions
Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox
reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number,
applications of redox reactions.
Unit 8: 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, electrometric effect, resonance and hyper
conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals,
carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.
3
Subject Code: 043
Classes XI-XII (2025-26)
Rationale
The second phase of Secondary stage is the most crucial stage of school
education because at this juncture specialized discipline based, content -
oriented courses are introduced. Students reach this stage after 10 years of
general education and opt for Chemistry with a purpose of pursuing their career
in basic sciences or professional courses like medicine, engineering, technology
and study courses in applied areas of science and technology at tertiary level.
Therefore, there is a need to provide the learners with a sufficient conceptual
background of Chemistry, which will make them competent to meet the
challenges of academic and professional courses after this stage.
The new and updated curriculum is based on a disciplinary approach with rigor
and depth taking care that the syllabus is not heavy and at the same time it is
comparable to that at the international level. The pedagogy of Chemistry has
undergone tremendous changes in recent times. Many new areas like green
chemistry, material science, biomolecules, and industrial chemistry deserve to
be an integral part of the chemistry syllabus at this stage. Globally,
nomenclature of elements and compounds, symbols and units of physical
quantities recommended by scientific bodies like IUPAC and CGPM are of
immense importance and also need to be incorporated in the updated syllabus.
The proposed syllabus adequately addresses these issues.
Objectives
The curriculum of Chemistry at the second phase of Secondary stage has been
designed to:
● equip the learners with tools to understand the working of Chemistry rather
than mere facts of it;
● develop the necessary conceptual foundations of chemistry and ability to
apply them to real life situations;
● enable the learners to represent chemical phenomena at macroscopic,
molecular, and symbolic levels;
● make the learners identify patterns and form connections that underlie various
chemical phenomena;
● prepare the learners to contribute to frontier research areas related to climate
change, environmental issues, materials science, biology and medicine etc.:
● inculcate problem solving skills in the learners and integrate life skills and
values in the context of chemistry; and
● apprise learners of the interface of chemistry with other disciplines of science
such as physics, biology, geology, engineering etc.
1
, COURSE STRUCTURE
CLASS XI
THEORY
Time: 3 Hours Total Marks: 70
S. No UNIT Marks
1 Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry 7
2 Structure of Atom 9
3 Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties 6
4 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure 7
5 Chemical Thermodynamics 9
6 Equilibrium 7
7 Redox Reactions 4
8 Organic Chemistry: Some basic Principles and 11
Techniques
9 Hydrocarbons 10
TOTAL 70
Unit 1: 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.
Unit 2: Structure of Atom
Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron, atomic number, isotopes and isobars.
Thomson's model and its limitations. Rutherford's model and its limitations, 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.
Unit 3: Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, 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, valiancy, Nomenclature of elements with atomic number
greater than 100.
2
, Unit 4: 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.
Unit 5: 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).
Unit 6: 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, hydrolysis of salts
(elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion
effect (with illustrative examples).
Unit 7: Redox Reactions
Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox
reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number,
applications of redox reactions.
Unit 8: 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, electrometric effect, resonance and hyper
conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals,
carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.
3
