JEE Main Chemistry Syllabus 2023- Download PDF with Topics and Weightage

JEE Main Chemistry Video Lectures

NTA has provided online video lectures by IIT Faculty and experts for the preparation of JEE Main Chemistry section . The steps to access the video lectures are as follows:

• Visit the official website of NTA i.e. nta.ac.in.
• Click on the “CONTENT BASED LECTURES - FOR JEE MAIN AND NEET-UG BY IIT PROFESSORS / SUBJECT EXPERTS” tab. 
• You will be redirected to the page containing the name of different subjects. 
• Choose the video lecture by clicking on the subject. 

Why should Candidates Attempt Chemistry First in JEE Main B.E/ B. Tech Paper?

It is often advised by experts out of three sections of B.E/ B. Tech paper of JEE Main, chemistry should be attempted first. 

• Chemistry questions include a major portion of fact-based questions. Therefore solving them first will be a quick process. The extra time left can be then utilized for the physics and maths sections which are considered more time-consuming. 
• In chemistry too, It is a good move to start with questions of inorganic chemistry, for example, reading well through chapters like P, S-block and Classification of elements and periodicity in property. Questions from these topics are direct and can be answered through direct application of knowledge of concepts.
•  Experts suggest that the entire JEE Main Chemistry section should be solved in not more than 40-45 minutes.
• The advisable order within the chemistry section of B.E/ B. Tech paper is Inorganic chemistry ( 6- 8 min) followed by Organic chemistry ( 12- 15 min) followed by Physical chemistry ( 15 - 17 min). The 5 numerical value based questions have to be solved in the remaining time out of the total of 40-45 minutes.

JEE Main Chemistry Preparation Tips by IITians 

How to tackle JEE Main Physical Chemistry?

• Physical Chemistry is the most liked section of chemistry by almost every student because it requires no intense memorization of chemical reactions. Physical chemistry has a lot many constants and involves various calculations, so to excel in physical chemistry the golden rule is to practice as much as you can.
• Class 11th Physical chemistry is relatively tougher than that of class 12th. Topics like Ionic Equilibrium and Thermodynamics are the toughest ones and require in-depth knowledge of theory as well as practice to solve their questions on the day of examinations. NCERT textbook is the best for theory for both these chapters and for problem-solving, the books of N. Avasthi book can be useful.
• Topics like Atomic structure, Chemical Equilibrium, Gaseous state and Mole Concepts are easy and scoring too. Atomic structure must be focussed with greater effort because the same chapter is in class 12th physics also and the content is almost same.
• On the contrary to class 11th, the Physical Chemistry of class 12th is much easier and scoring too. Chapters like Solid State, Solutions, and Chemical kinetics are easy which makes it easy to score in physical chemistry. The only intriguing chapter in class 12th is Electrochemistry. This chapter also requires in-depth knowledge of theory then only you can solve the questions of this chapter. The Level-2 problems in N. Avasthi book are really very good and will help you build a good foundation for this chapter.
• Lastly, Surface Chemistry is a completely theoretical chapter but very rewarding because 1 question from this chapter directly from the NCERT textbook is present in both JEE Mains as well as in JEE Advanced.
• Class 12th has more weightage than 11th. Topics like Solid State, Solutions, Chemical kinetics, and Atomic Structure are easy and almost 2 questions from each of these chapters are present in every competitive exam. Thermodynamics, Ionic equilibrium and Electrochemistry are a bit tough so practice these topics more efficiently.

For physical chemistry practice is the key to success, so books with good questions become very important. For theory preparation, read NCERT textbooks and class notes (of school or coaching) only because side books contain additional topics too which are not in the syllabus of any exam. For practicing questions refer to books by:

• N. Avasthi
• P.Bahadur
• R.C Mukharjee
• O.P. Tandon

How to tackle JEE Main Organic Chemistry?

• Approximately 33% of the Chemistry questions in JEE Main are from Organic Chemistry with equal weightage to the syllabus of class XI and XII. Though questions from this section appear to be tough to some people, they consume very little time if one has proper knowledge of this section of the subject. 
• The students should have a clear understanding of the facts and concepts of Organic chemistry while solving the questions because often the options are confusing and people make mistakes because of their vague understanding of facts. So, to have a clear understanding of the subject the first and foremost thing we should do is study NCERT thoroughly and complete all the exercises with full dedication because many times questions come directly from NCERT.
• The most important topic in the subject is General Organic Chemistry because the concepts, mechanisms, and exceptions taught in this topic are used in all the later chapters of Organic Chemistry. 
• There are some very easy topics that are in the JEE Mains syllabus which can fetch marks even if one prepares them a month before the exams. These topics are Biomolecules and polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life, and the Classification of elements in Organic Compounds.
• Organic Chemistry also requires a lot of practice because there are many variations of questions. But since questions from this section consume very little time so we can practice lots of questions. One should completely understand the concepts of resonance, acidity, and basicity and practice all sorts of questions related to these because these concepts are used in almost every Organic Chemistry chapter, and often question are asked to determine the order of acidity or basicity.
• “One thing which I would suggest everyone do is to prepare a list of exceptional behaviors of reagents and substrates after every chapter as it would prove to be a very useful tool while revising the chapters. I would also suggest practicing solving Organic Chemistry questions for at least 30 to 45 minutes every day to gain complete mastery over the topics.”
• The most important thing which can fetch very good marks in Organic Chemistry in both JEE Advanced and JEE Mains is the knowledge of mechanisms of reactions and the reagents used in the reactions because they determine what product would be formed in the reactions, so knowledge of these topics is a must. Aromatic compounds and their reactions are also very important, they come every year on the question paper. For example,

• For other reference books, one can use ‘MS Chauhan Organic Chemistry’, it contains a vast variety of questions that can help to get a complete understanding of the topics, and for theory, apart from NCERT, one can use ‘GRB Organic Chemistry by OP Tandon’ or ‘Organic Chemistry for JEE Main and Advanced by Ranjeet Shahi’. Apart from these books, solving past-year questions is also a must-do for every student. 

How to tackle JEE Main Inorganic Chemistry?

• Inorganic chemistry makes up almost 50% of the plus two chemistry syllabus, even though it is a widely neglected topic due to the requirement of memorization of innumerable facts and exceptions rather than core concepts, unlike the organic part. 
• However, this part also guarantees an edge over the other co-participants if one can master it. Unlike organic chemistry which includes hundred of complex reaction mechanisms, grasping few concepts and continuous revision of exceptions on a daily basis will ensure an easy sail through the inorganic chapters. 
• For higher secondary examination the marks distribution remains almost the same for both classes 11 and 12 which is 39/70. Hence more than half the paper is dedicated to the inorganic section which actually makes it scoring for students who have been wise enough to prepare this part.
• Coming to the preparation strategy, all you need is NCERTS of class 11 -12 which comes in two parts, accompanied by just one good reference book. 
• NCERTs cover all the basic concepts in a lucid way and each line of the book should be read thoroughly as many times as you require to grasp it. Keeping highlighters to mark the important lines is a good idea as many students do. You may keep a notebook to jot down important parts, reactions, and exceptions which you may revise later. Using sticky papers and keeping them within the chapters in the book itself is a better idea as it will help in quick revision whenever you open the books to glance through the chapters before your D-day.
• The exceptions, important reactions as those from salt analysis, redox chapters, and periodic tables can be drawn on sheets and stuck on the walls too as continuous visualization helps the memory to retain better.
• Next is how much time one needs to allot for this section. This is an easier section that only needs your patience and memory. In a year-round approach, revise the chapters as they are taught in your schools or coaching center on the same day itself (p.s. don’t keep for last-minute revisions) and afterward keep revisiting them on weekends. 
• After the syllabus is over, dedicate at least 1 hour to revise the chapters with special focus on exceptions every day, with time it will take lesser time, say 30-45 mins. Questions are mostly asked from exceptions and reactions in competitive exams, hence that should be the priority.
• Some of the reference books referred by toppers are J.D Lee, O.P Tandon. And for problem-solving, you can refer a book by Cengage publication or “problems in inorganic chemistry “by VK Jaiswal. Anyone and mind you just one is enough.
•  For JEE Main, only 17-18 questions are asked on average, plus two preparation (exceptions most importantly) along with lot of MCQs practice will be fine. Take notes of important points while you solve MCQs, that will really help you to cover all the topics in a shorter time. If reading doesn’t help, one may also refer the online videos by Byju ‘s and Kaysons as these are the best two.
• NCERTs should act as your Bible supplemented with a lot of problem-solving. Consistent revision of all the concepts and exceptions will surely give you a perfect score in the subject.

JEE Main Chemistry Paper Attempting Tips

Being the most scoring section, chemistry often turns out to be a major rank uplifter for one’s overall performance in JEE Main. However, chemistry is often proves troublesome in terms of preparation for candidates, here are some tips that can assist the candidates in their preparation for JEE Main Chemistry:

• Use limited and accurate resources: Don’t try to cover the syllabus from multiple sources, you must practice from NCERT well. Other than that, you can read different concepts from a few acknowledged sources. Make voice notes or written notes and revise them regularly. 
• Solve Questions Everyday: Retention is one of the factors resulting in a good attempt in the chemistry section, and retention can only be assured with practice. Candidates should make a habit of solving 40-50 questions on a daily basis. Whether you mix the questions from various topics or handle questions from a specific topic everyday totally depends on you.The way to maximize your score in Chemistry is to ensure a balance between analytical skills and memorization skills.
• Identify answers through approximations: It is not wise to test your mathematics skills while solving the chemistry questions. You must remember that the time is limited and solve accordingly. Candidates can get an approximate answer and pick the option closest to it, unless the options are really close to each other.
• Practice with previous year papers and mock tests: Practicing is the most essential component of your preparation as per all the experts. Practice and analyze your performance constantly to know the productivity of your current plan. 
• Invest your time wisely: The importance of time management in the chemistry paper is of utmost importance, candidates can save time in direct questions and invest the same in questions that will take longer in terms of attempting. 

Best Books for JEE Main Chemistry Syllabus

While NCERT textbooks of class XI and XII are considered the best source of preparation for JEE Main Chemistry as many direct questions are asked form these texts, here is a list of some other books that can be of help to candidates: