CUET Chemistry Syllabus
The candidates who will opt for Chemistry as a test subject in the forthcoming CUET 2024 should go through the chemistry syllabus of CUET 2024. 16 units in the CUET chemistry syllabus cover topics ranging from solid-state chemistry to electrochemistry and polymer chemistry to biomolecules and polymers. CUET 2024 offers more than 3 lakh undergraduate seats across 250+ universities, making it one of the most competitive examinations at the undergraduate level. The NTA will conduct examinations in an online format (MCQs), and the CUET UG syllabus will be based on the NCERT syllabus for the 12th grade.
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Chemistry Syllabus for CUET
The entire chemistry syllabus for CUET 2024 consists of 16 units. Each unit carries several chapters or sub-topics. Below is the complete syllabus for reference. You can also download the syllabus from the official website.
| Units | Title | Subject |
| 1 | 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, electrical and magnetic properties, Band theory of metals, conductors, semiconductors and insulators and n and p-type semiconductors. |
| 2. | Solutions | Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, the solubility of gases in liquids, colligative properties- the relative lowering of vapour pressure, Raoult’s law, Elevation of BP, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure, determination of molecular masses using colligative properties, abnormal molecular mass, Vant Hoff factor. |
| 3. | Electrochemistry | 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. |
| 4. | Chemical Kinetics | Rate of reaction (Average and Instantaneous), factors affecting rates of reaction: concentration, catalyst, temperature, 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. |
| 5. | Surface Chemistry | Adsorption- Physisorption and chemisorption, factors affecting adsorption of gases on solids, catalysis: Homogenous and Heterogenous, activity and selectivity: Enzyme catalysis, colloidal state: The distinction between true solutions, colloids, and suspensions, Iyophilic, Iyophobic, multimolecular and macromolecular colloids, properties of colloids, Tyndall effect, Brownian movement, electrophoresis, coagulation, emulsions- types of emulsions. |
| 6. | 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, zinc, copper and iron. |
| 7. | p-Block Elements | 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, oxides of nitrogen (structure only); phosphorous-allotropic forms, compounds of phosphorous: preparation and properties of phosphine, halides (PC 13, PC15) and oxoacids (elementary idea only). 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). |
| 8. | D and F Block Elements | General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristic of transition metals, general trends in properties of the first-row transition metals- metallic character, ionisation enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, magnetic properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation. Preparation and properties of K2Cr207 and KMnO4. Lanthanoids- Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity, and lanthanoid contraction and its consequences. Actionoids- Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanoids. |
| 9. | Coordination Compounds | Coordination compounds: Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties, and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds, bonding, Werner’s theory VBT, CFT; isomerism (structural and stereo)importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and biological systems). |
| 10. | Haloalkalanes 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 for monosubstituted compounds only). Uses and environmental effects of – dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT. |
| 11. | 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 |
| 12. | Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Aldehydes and Ketones; Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition, the reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes; etc.
Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses, etc. |
| 13. | 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 – will be mentioned at relevant places in context. Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions, and importance in synthetic organic chemistry |
| 14. | Biomolecules | Carbohydrates- Classification (Aldoses and Ketoses), monosaccharide (Glucose and Fructose), D-L configuration, oligosaccharides (Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose, Polysaccharides (Starch, cellulose, Glycogen): Importance Proteins- Elementary idea of amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, primary structure, secondary structure, tertiary structure and quaternary structure (Qualitative idea), denaturation of proteins and enzymes. |
| 15. | Hormones – Elementary idea (Excluding structure). | Vitamins- Classification and functions. |
| 15. | Polymers | Classification- Natural and Synthetic, methods of polymerisation (Addition and Condensation), copolymerisation. Some important polymers: Natural and Synthetic, and methods of polymerisation (Addition and condensation). |
| 16. | Chemistry in Everyday Life | Chemicals in medicines – analgesics, tranquillizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, and antihistamines. 2. Chemicals in food – preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, elementary idea of antioxidants. 3. Cleansing agents – soaps and detergents, cleansing action. |
Best books for Chemistry syllabus for CUET 2024
Below are the best books one can refer to while preparing for the CUET Chemistry subject, as suggested by the toppers and experts:
- A Textbook of Physical Chemistry by Dr RK Gupta
- A Textbook of Inorganic Chemistry by Dr OP Tandon
- A Textbook of Organic Chemistry by OP Tandon
- Modern’s ABC of Chemistry Textbooks for Class 12
- NCERT Chemistry Textbooks for Class 12
- Concise Inorganic Chemistry by JD Lee
- Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd for Organic Chemistry
Conclusion
The Chemistry Syllabus for CUET 2024 contains the chapters and topics of Class 12, which is half of the syllabus for the board exam. Therefore, candidates preparing for the CUET exam should prepare thoroughly for the chemistry syllabus, which is taught in the final year of their education. To complete the syllabus on time, they should also follow a proper preparation strategy. For more information, read our blog on CUET Syllabus.
FAQs on Chemistry Syllabus for CUET
1. Is CUET Chemistry hard?
The CUET exam is not difficult. The main reason is that the NTA is conducting CUET for the first time to offer admission to India’s top central universities. There’s a moderate level of difficulty.
2. What are the passing marks for CUET Chemistry?
The CUET passing marks differ from university to university. There are no set CUET passing scores for the CUET. However, one should secure a minimum of 300 -400 marks in CUET to qualify for the admission process.