JEE Main Chemistry: Syllabus, Units & Exam Pattern

Physical Chemistry

• Ch 1 Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry

  Laws of chemical combination, atomic and molecular masses, the mole concept, molar mass, and stoichiometry.

• Ch 2 Atomic Structure

  Bohr model and its limitations, dual nature of matter, quantum numbers, orbital shapes, and electronic configuration.

• Ch 3 Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

  Ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR theory, valence bond and molecular orbital theory, hybridization and bond order.

• Ch 4 Chemical Thermodynamics

  First and second laws, internal energy and enthalpy, Hess's law, entropy, Gibbs energy and spontaneity.

• Ch 5 Solutions

  Concentration terms, Raoult's law, ideal and non-ideal solutions, colligative properties and van't Hoff factor.

• Ch 6 Equilibrium

  Physical and chemical equilibria, Kp and Kc, Le Chatelier's principle, ionic equilibrium, pH, and solubility product.

• Ch 7 Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry

  Oxidation number and balancing redox reactions, conductance, Kohlrausch's law, electrochemical cells and the Nernst equation.

• Ch 8 Chemical Kinetics

  Rate of reaction, order and molecularity, zero- and first-order reactions, Arrhenius theory and collision theory.

Inorganic Chemistry

• Ch 9 Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

  Modern periodic law, s, p, d and f blocks, and periodic trends in atomic radii, ionization enthalpy and reactivity.

• Ch 10 p-Block Elements

  Groups 13 to 18: electronic configuration, general trends across periods and groups, and the anomalous first element.

• Ch 11 d- and f-Block Elements

  Transition elements — trends, oxidation states, colour, magnetic and catalytic properties; lanthanoids and actinoids.

• Ch 12 Coordination Compounds

  Werner's theory, IUPAC nomenclature, isomerism, valence bond and crystal field theory, and their importance.

Organic Chemistry

• Ch 13 Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds

  Purification techniques, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and calculation of empirical and molecular formulae.

• Ch 14 Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry

  Classification and nomenclature, isomerism, bond fission, electronic effects, and common reaction types.

• Ch 15 Hydrocarbons

  Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons — preparation, properties, and reaction mechanisms.

• Ch 16 Organic Compounds Containing Halogens

  Preparation and reactions, nature of the C–X bond, substitution mechanisms, and environmental effects.

• Ch 17 Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen

  Alcohols, phenols and ethers; aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids — preparation, properties and key reactions.

• Ch 18 Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen

  Amines — nomenclature, structure, basic character and identification — and diazonium salts in synthesis.

• Ch 19 Biomolecules

  Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and an introduction to hormones.

• Ch 20 Principles Related to Practical Chemistry

  Detection of elements and functional groups, preparation of compounds, titrimetric exercises, and qualitative salt analysis.

Point to the Method

Names the tool to reach for (e.g. "Use moles = mass ÷ molar mass") without giving the answer.

Guided Reasoning Prompt

Prompts the key idea (e.g. "What is the molar mass of CO₂, and how does it relate to the given mass?").

Complete Worked Solution

Shows the full step-by-step working and explains why the answer is correct.

Balance All Three Branches

Physical, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry each contribute questions — neglecting one branch leaves easy marks on the table.

Make Inorganic Memory Active

Periodic trends and p-block/d-block facts reward regular revision; recall them against the periodic table rather than in isolation.

Learn Organic by Mechanism

Understanding reaction mechanisms, not just products, lets you handle the unfamiliar reactions that appear in the paper.

How many units are in the JEE Main Chemistry syllabus?

The official JEE (Main) 2026 Paper 1 Chemistry syllabus has 20 units, organised as Physical Chemistry (Units 1–8), Inorganic Chemistry (Units 9–12) and Organic Chemistry (Units 13–20). Always confirm the current syllabus on the official NTA website.

How many questions and marks does Chemistry carry in JEE Main?

In Paper 1, Chemistry has 25 questions — 20 multiple-choice in Section A and 5 numerical-value questions in Section B — for 100 marks, with equal weightage to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Is there negative marking in JEE Main Chemistry?

Yes. A correct answer scores +4 and an incorrect answer scores −1 in both Section A and Section B. Unanswered questions score 0.

How is the Chemistry syllabus divided?

Into three branches — Physical Chemistry (basic concepts, atomic structure, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry and kinetics), Inorganic Chemistry (periodicity, p-, d- and f-block elements and coordination compounds), and Organic Chemistry (basic principles, hydrocarbons, functional groups and biomolecules).