UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 for IAS Mains (Paper 1 & 2)

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 - UPSC released the UPSC IAS Chemistry 2020 in the official notification. UPSC Chemistry 2020 Syllabus is of graduate level. The syllabus of UPSC IAS 2020 mainly for Chemistry focuses on the atomic structure, chemical bonding, states of matter, thermodynamics, reactions etc. New dates for the UPSC Civil Services exam 2020 might get released in a few days. To ease out the stress we have shared the detailed UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 for candidates who have chosen Chemistry as one of the optional subjects. Chemistry is one of the Optional Subjects with 2 papers (Optional Paper I and Paper II). Apart from the UPSC Chemistry 2020 syllabus, we will also be discussing the preparation strategy, tips, tricks as well as the IAS exam pattern. So, let’s get your preparation started for UPSC IAS 2020. The detailed UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 is mentioned below:

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 - Paper 1

Here we have shared the topics and subtopics on which the UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 will be based on.

1. Chemical bonding: This section will have topics on characteristics of ionic compounds, Ionic bond, lattice energy, Born-Haber cycle; polarities of bonds in molecules and their dipole moments, covalent bond and its general characteristics; Valence bond theory, the concept of resonance and resonance energy; Molecular orbital theory (LCAO method); bonding H2 +, H2 He2 + to Ne2, NO, CO, HF, CN–, bond order, bond strength, Comparison of valence bond and molecular orbital theories, and bond length.

2. Solid State: Bragg's law; Crystal systems; Designation of crystal faces, lattice structures and unit cell; X-ray diffraction by crystals; Structures of NaCl, ZnS, CsCl, CaF2; Close packing, radius ratio rules, calculation of some limiting radius ratio values; Stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric defects, semiconductors, impurity defects.

3. Atomic Structure: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle Schrodinger wave equation (time-independent); Interpretation of wave function, quantum numbers, particle in one- dimensional box, hydrogen atom wave functions; Shapes of s, p and d orbitals

4. Liquid State: Kelvin equation; Wetting and contact angle, Surface tension and surface energy, capillary action and interfacial tension.

5. The Gaseous State and Transport Phenomenon: Equation of state for real gases, Intermolecular interactions, critical phenomena and liquefaction of gases; Intermolecular collisions, collisions on the wall and effusion; Maxwell’s distribution of speeds, Thermal conductivity and viscosity of ideal gases.

6. Electrochemistry: Galvanic cells, concentration cells; electrochemical series, measurement of e.m.f. of cells and its applications fuel cells and batteries. Debye-Huckel theory of strong electrolytes and Debye-Huckel limiting Law for various equilibrium and transport properties. Processes at electrodes; double layer at the interface; the rate of charge transfer, current density; overpotential; electroanalytical techniques: amperometry, ion-selective electrodes and their use.

7. Phase Equilibria and Solutions: Clausius-Clapeyron equation; phase diagram for a pure substance; phase equilibria in binary systems, partially miscible liquids—upper and lower critical solution temperatures; partial molar quantities, their significance and determination; excess thermodynamic functions and their determination.

8. Thermodynamics: Second law of thermodynamics; entropy as a state function, entropy changes in various processes, entropy-reversibility and irreversibility, Free energy functions; Thermodynamic equation of state; Maxwell relations; Temperature, volume and pressure dependence of U, H, -T effect and inversion temperature; criteria for equilibrium, the relation between equilibrium constant and thermodynamic quantities; Nernst heat theorem, the introductory idea of the third law of thermodynamics. Work, heat and internal energy; first law of thermodynamics.

9. Chemical Kinetics: Study of fast reactions by stop-flow and relaxation methods. Collisions and transition state theories. Differential and integral rate equations for zeroth, first, second and fractional order reactions; Rate equations involving reverse, consecutive and chain reactions, parallel; Branching chain and explosions; effect of temperature and pressure on rate constant.

10. Bio-inorganic Chemistry: Metal ions in biological systems and their role in ion transport across the membranes (molecular mechanism), cytochromes and ferredoxins, oxygen-uptake proteins.

11. Surface Phenomena and Catalysis: Absorption from gases and solutions on solid adsorbents; Langmuir and B.E.T. adsorption isotherms; characteristics and mechanism of reaction on heterogeneous catalysts, determination of surface area.

12. Photochemistry: Absorption of light; decay of excited state by different routes; photochemical reactions between hydrogen and halogens and their quantum yields.

13. Coordination Chemistry :

(i) Valence bond theory, crystal field theory and its modifications; applications of theories in the explanation of magnetism and electronic spectra of metal complexes, Bonding in the transition of metal complexes.

(ii) Isomerism in coordination compounds; stereochemistry of complexes with 4 and 6 coordination numbers; IUPAC nomenclature of coordination compounds; trans effect and its theories; chelate effect and polynuclear complexes; kinetics of substitution reactions in square-planar complexes; thermodynamic and kinetic stability of complexes.

(iii) EAN rule, Synthesis structure and reactivity of metal carbonyls; carboxylate anions, carbonyl hydrides and metal nitrosyl compounds.

(iv) Complexes with aromatic systems, structure and bonding in metal olefin complexes, synthesis, alkyne complexes and cyclopentadienyl complexes; oxidative addition reactions, coordinative unsaturation, insertion reactions, fluxional molecules and their characterization; Compounds with metal-metal bonds and metal atom clusters.

14. General Chemistry of ‘f’ Block Element: Lanthanides and actinides: oxidation states, separation, magnetic and spectral properties; lanthanide contraction.

15. Main Group Chemistry: Boranes, phosphazenes and cyclic phosphazene, borazines, Interhalogen compounds, silicates and silicones, Sulphur—nitrogen compounds, noble gas compounds.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 - Paper 2

As per the UPSC Chemistry 2020 Syllabus the paper 2 will be based on the topics and subtopics as mentioned below:

1. Delocalised Covalent Bonding: Aromaticity, anti-aromaticity; azulenes, annulenes, tropolones, sydnones, fulvenes.

2. (i) Reaction mechanisms: General methods (both kinetic and non-kinetic) of study of mechanisms or organic reactions: mathod crossover experiment, isotopies, intermediate trapping, stereochemistry; the energy of activation; kinetic control of reactions and thermodynamic control

(ii) Reactive intermediates: Generation, stability and reactions of Carbenium ions and carbanions, geometry, carbenes, free radicals, benzynes and nitrenes.

(iii) Substitution reactions:—SN 1, SN 2, and SN i, mechanisms; neighbouring group participation; electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions of aromatic compounds including heterocyclic compounds—pyrrole, furan, thiophene and indole.

(iv) Elimination reactions:—E1, E2 and E1cb mechanisms; orientation in E2 reactions—Saytzeff and Hoffmann; pyrolytic syn elimination—acetate pyrolysis, Chugaev and Cope eliminations.

(v) Addition reactions:— ed olefins and carbonyls.

(vi) Reactions and Rearrangements :—(a) Hoffmann, Beckmann, Pinacol-pinacolone, Baeyer-Villiger, Fries, Claisen, Favorskii, Cope, Stevens and Wagner—Meerwein rearrangements.

(b) Aldol condensation, Dieckmann, Perkin, Claisen condensation, Knoevenagel, Clemmensen, Witting, Wolff-Kishner, Cannizzaro and von Richter reactions; Stobbe, benzoin and acyloin condensations; Skraup synthesis, Fischer indole synthesis,

Bischler-Napieralski, Reimer-Tiemann, Reformatsky reactions and Sandmeyer.

3. Pericyclic reactions:— Classification and examples; Woodward-Hoffmann

rules—electrocyclic reactions, cycloaddition reactions [2+2 and 4+2] and sigmatropic

shifts [1, 3; 3, 3 and 1, 5], FMO approach.

4. (i) Preparation and Properties of Polymers: Polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, Organic polymers polyethene, Teflon, synthetic, natural rubber, nylon and terylene,

(ii) Biopolymers: Structure of proteins, DNA and RNA.

5. Synthetic Uses of Reagents: OsO4, HlO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, NBS, B2H6, Na-Liquid NH3, LiAIH4, NaBH4, n-BuLi, MCPBA.

6. Photochemistry:— Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds, singlet and triplet states, excited and ground states, Norrish-Type I and Type II reactions.

7. Spectroscopy: Principle and applications in structure elucidation :

(i) Rotational—Diatomic molecules; rotational constants and isotopic substitution.

(ii) Vibrational—Diatomic molecules, linear triatomic molecules and specific frequencies of functional groups in polyatomic molecules.

(iii) Electronic—Singlet and triplet states. Conjugated double bonds and conjugated carbonyls Woodward-Fieser rules; Charge transfer spectra.

(iv) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1HNMR): Basic principle; coupling constants and chemical shift and spin-spin interaction.

(v) Mass Spectrometry:— McLafferty rearrangement, Parent peak, metastable peak, base peak.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 - Preparation Tips

Better UPSC IAS preparation tips will always come in handy and will enable candidates to score well and be successful in the UPSC exam. Here mentioned are some quick tips:

• Refer to NCERT books to prepare Chemistry.

• Prepare a perfect IAS study plan.

• UPSC CSE Chemistry requires high-level preparation strategy and candidates must start the preparations early.

• Solve previous year questions papers for better preparations. Also, look for UPSC IAS question papers for Chemistry and solve mocks.

• It is better to do the UPSC IAS exam analysis, to know about the question trends, difficulty level of the exam and also to work on your weaker subjects.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2020 Best Books

In the following table, we have shared a list of some of the best books for UPSC IAS preparation. Candidates are advised to take reference of the same.

Best books for Chemistry

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