Doc Brown's Chemistry - Online Revision Notes Help for India's ITI-JEE Exam Syllabus

CHEMISTRY revision help for the Joint Entrance Examination for Indian Technical Institutes (IITs)

IIT = an India Institute of Technology, JEE = Joint Examination Entrance for admission to undergraduate programmes of study at India's IITs at Bhubaneswar, Bombay, Delhi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Mandi, Patna, Rajasthan, Roorkee, Ropar, It-Bhu, Varanasi, Ism-Dhanbad

Not all the syllabus-specification topics are covered but I've listed links to sections of my website which should prove useful

Physical Chemistry

• General topics

  • Concept of atoms and molecules; Dalton’s atomic theory

    • Some important definitions in Chemistry - Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

  • Mole concept; Chemical formulae; Balanced chemical equations; Calculations (based on mole concept) involving common oxidation-reduction, neutralisation, and displacement reactions

    • How to write equations, work out formula and name compounds
    • What is relative atomic mass? (A_r) and relative isotopic mass
    • Calculating relative formula/molecular mass (M_r) of a compound or element molecule
    • Law of Conservation of Mass and simple reacting mass calculations
    • Composition by percentage (%) mass of elements in a compound
    • Empirical formula and formula mass of a compound from reacting masses (easy start, not using moles)
    • Reacting mass ratio calculations of reactants and products (NOT using moles and brief mention)
    • Reacting masses, concentration of solution and volumetric titration calculations (NOT using moles)
    • Introducing moles: The connection between moles, mass and formula mass - the basis of reacting mole ratio calculations (relating reacting masses and formula mass).
    • Using moles to calculate empirical formula and deduce molecular formula of a compound/molecule
    • Moles and the molar volume of a gas, Avogadro's Law
    • Reacting gas volume ratios, Avogadro's Law and Gay-Lussac's Law (ratio of gaseous reactants-products)
    • Molarity, volumes and solution concentrations (and diagrams of apparatus)
    • Volumetric titration calculations e.g. acid-alkali titrations (and diagrams of apparatus)

    • Acid-base and other non-redox titration calculation questions with worked out answers

    • Redox titration calculation questions with worked out answers

  • Concentration in terms of mole fraction, molarity, molality and normality.

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• Gaseous and liquid states

  • Absolute scale of temperature, ideal gas equation; Deviation from ideality, van der Waals equation; Kinetic theory of gases. Law of partial pressures, diffusion of gases

    • States of Matter PART 1 - particle theory - gas, liquid & solid - notes and diagrams on states, state changes, using the particle model to explain their properties
    • States of Matter PART 2 - Gas Law Calculations, Ideal & non-ideal gases, Van der Waals equation etc.

  • Average, root mean square and most probable velocities and their relation with temperature

    • -

  • Vapour pressure

    • Vapour pressure origin and examples

• Atomic structure and chemical bonding

  • Bohr model, spectrum of hydrogen atom, quantum numbers; Wave-particle duality, de Broglie hypothesis; Uncertainty principle; Qualitative quantum mechanical picture of hydrogen atom, shapes of s, p and d orbitals; Electronic configurations of elements (up to atomic number 36); Aufbau principle; Pauli’s exclusion principle and Hund’s rule; Orbital overlap and covalent bond; Hybridisation involving s, p and d orbitals only; Orbital energy diagrams for homonuclear diatomic species

    • Atomic Structure - the structure of atoms, isotopes, nuclear structure notation, electronic structure & Periodic Table

    • Electronic Structure and Ionisation Energies

    • The electronic structure of atoms (including s p d f subshells/orbitals/notation)

    • Electron configurations of elements (Z = 1 to 56)

    • Electron configuration and the Periodic Table

    • Electron configuration of ions and oxidation states 

    • Spectroscopy and the hydrogen spectrum

    • Evidence of quantum levels from ionisation energies

  • Hydrogen bond; Polarity in molecules, dipole moment (qualitative aspects only)

    • Introduction to Intermolecular Forces

    • A comparative discussion of boiling points of 8 organic molecules

    • Evidence and theory for hydrogen bonding in simple covalent hydrides

  • VSEPR model and shapes of molecules (linear, angular, triangular, square planar, pyramidal, square pyramidal, trigonal bipyramidal, tetrahedral and octahedral).

    • Shapes of simple molecules, ions, transition metal complexes
    • Shape, bond angles of particular oxide/oxyanion molecules/ions of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur/sulphur and chlorine
    • Shapes and bond angles of organic molecules

• Energetics

  • First law of thermodynamics; Internal energy, work and heat, pressure-volume work; Enthalpy, Hess’s law; Heat of reaction, fusion and vapourization; Second law of thermodynamics; Entropy; Free energy; Criterion of spontaneity.

    • Basic notes of exothermic and endothermic reactions and calculation of enthalpy changes from 'simple' calorimetry experiments and resulting data
    • ΔH Enthalpy Changes - advanced ideas
    • Advanced Introduction to enthalpy changes - reaction, formation, combustion
    • Thermochemistry - Hess's Law and Enthalpy Calculations - reaction, combustion, formation etc.
    • Bond Enthalpy Calculations
    • Experimental methods for determining enthalpy changes and treatment of results
    • Some enthalpy data patterns and combustion of linear alkanes and linear aliphatic alcohols
    • Some patterns in Bond Enthalpies and Bond Length
    • Enthalpies of Neutralisation and Hydrogenation
    • A set of practice enthalpy calculations with worked out answers
    • ΔS Entropy and ΔG Free Energy Changes - Introduction to Entropy
    • Examples of entropy values and comments
    • ΔS, Entropy and change of state
    • ΔS, Entropy changes and the feasibility of a chemical change
    • More on ΔG, Free energy changes, feasibility and applications

• Chemical equilibrium

  • Law of mass action; Equilibrium constant, Le Chatelier’s principle (effect of concentration, temperature and pressure)

    • Equilibrium, Le Chatelier's Principle-rules

    • K_c and K_p equilibrium expressions and calculations

    • Equilibrium and industrial processes

  • Significance of ΔG and ΔG^o in chemical equilibrium

    • ΔS, Entropy changes and the feasibility of a chemical change

    • More on ΔG, Free energy changes, feasibility and applications

    • Calculating Equilibrium Constants

  • Solubility product, common ion effect, pH and buffer solutions; Acids and bases (Bronsted and Lewis concepts); Hydrolysis of salts

    • Solubility product and common ion effect

    • Acid-base theory and calculations - introduction to Lewis and Bronsted-Lowry acid-base theories

    • Self-ionisation of water and pH scale

    • strong acids-examples

    • weak acids-examples

    • strong bases-examples

    • weak bases- examples

    • Salt hydrolysis

    • Buffers - definition, formulation and action

    • Case studies of buffer function

• Electrochemistry

  • Electrochemical cells and cell reactions; Standard electrode potentials; Nernst equation and its relation to DG; Electrochemical series, Emf of galvanic cells; Faraday’s laws of electrolysis.

    • Electrochemistry - basic introduction - links to pages on applications of electrolysis

    • Basic electrolysis products calculations (negative cathode and positive anode products)
    • Half cell equilibria, electrode potential
    • Simple cells notation and construction
    • The hydrogen electrode and standard conditions
    • Half-cell potentials, Electrochemical Series and using E^θ_cell for reaction feasibility
    • Electrochemical cells ('batteries') and fuel cell systems
    • Electrolysis and the electrochemical series
    • Exemplar Questions, Appendix 1. The Nernst Equation, Appendix 2 Free Energy, Cell Emf and K
  • ; Electrolytic conductance, specific, equivalent and molar conductivity, Kohlrausch’s law; Concentration cells
    • -

• Chemical kinetics

  • Rates of chemical reactions; Order of reactions; Rate constant; First order reactions; Temperature dependence of rate constant (Arrhenius equation).

    • Basic ideas on the rates of chemical reactions

    • KINETICS (1) Advanced rates of reactions revision notes: temperature effect and activation energy, homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts, obtaining data, rate expressions and orders of reaction, deducing orders of reaction

      • Computer simulation of Maxwell-Boltzman distribution of kinetic energies

    • KINETICS (2) Selected case studies of kinetics and rate expressions and calculations, Arrhenius Equation - deriving the activation energy E_a from kinetics-rates data and kinetic versus thermodynamic stability

• Solid state

  • Classification of solids, crystalline state, seven crystal systems (cell parameters a, b, c, ), close packed structure of solids (cubic, packing in fcc, bcc and hcp lattices; Nearest neighbours, ionic radii, simple ionic compounds, point defects.

    • Ionic Bonding - compounds and properties

    • Period 4 trends in bonding and formulae - section at the end on ionic radii

    • Periodic Table data  tables including ionic radii

• Solutions

  • Raoult’s law; Molecular weight determination from lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point and depression of freezing point.

    • -

• Surface chemistry

  • Elementary concepts of adsorption (excluding adsorption isotherms)

    • -

  • Colloids: types, methods of preparation and general properties; Elementary ideas of emulsions, surfactants and micelles (only definitions and examples).

    • Water - section on colloids

• Nuclear chemistry

  • Radioactivity: isotopes and isobars; Properties of rays; Kinetics of radioactive decay (decay series excluded), carbon dating; Stability of nuclei with respect to proton-neutron ratio; Brief discussion on fission and fusion reactions.

    • The Structure of Atoms - 3 fundamental particles and what it is an atom like?

    • What is Radioactivity? Why does it happen? How did they find out there were three types of atomic-ionising radiation?

    • Detection of Radioactivity, its measurement and radiation dose units and ionising radiation sources - radioactive materials

    • Alpha, beta & gamma radiation - properties of 3 types of radioactive emission & symbols and dangers of radioactive emissions - beware of ionising radiation from radio-isotopes!

    • The uses of radioactive Isotopes emitting alpha, beta or gamma radiation

    • The half-life of a radioisotope - how long does material remain radioactive? implications! and Uses of decay data and half-life values archaeological radiocarbon dating, dating rocks

    • What actually happens to the nucleus in alpha and beta radioactive decay? nuclear equations! and production of radioisotopes - artificial sources

    • Nuclear fusion reactions and the formation of 'heavy elements'

    • Nuclear Fission Reactions, nuclear power energy resource

       

Inorganic Chemistry

• Isolation/preparation and properties of the following non-metals

  • Boron, silicon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, sulphur and halogens.

    • -

  • Properties of allotropes of carbon (only diamond and graphite), phosphorus and sulphur

    • Covalent Bonding - macromolecules and giant covalent structures

• Preparation and properties of the following compounds:

  • Alkali & Alkaline Earth Metals: Oxides, peroxides, hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulphates of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

    • Group 1 Alkali Metals and Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals 7.1 Introduction

    • Groups 1/2 data and graphs

    • General trends down the group and formulae

    • Oxygen reaction & oxides

    • Water reaction & hydroxides

    • Acid reaction & salts

    • chlorine reaction - halides

    • carbonates & hydrogen carbonates

    • Solubility trends of OH, NO₃,SO₄,CO₃'s

    • Thermal decomposition and stability of carbonates & nitrates

    • Uses of group 1-2 metals and their compounds

  • Group 3/13: Boron: diborane, boric acid and borax; Aluminium: alumina, aluminium chloride and alums.

    • Group 3/13 Introduction - boron and aluminium

  • Group 4/14: Carbon: oxides and oxyacid (carbonic acid); Silicon: silicones, silicates and silicon carbide.

    • Group 4/14 Introduction - carbon and silicon

  • Group 5/15: Nitrogen: oxides, oxyacids and ammonia; Phosphorus: oxides, oxyacids (phosphorus acid, phosphoric acid) and phosphine.

    • Group 5/15 Introduction - nitrogen and phosphorus

  • Oxygen: ozone and hydrogen peroxide; Sulphur: hydrogen sulphide, oxides, sulphurous acid, sulphuric acid and sodium thiosulphate.

    • Group 5/15 Introduction - oxygen and sulphur

  • Group 7/17 Halogens: hydrohalic acids, oxides and oxyacids of chlorine, bleaching powder.

    • Group 7/17 The Halogens  Introduction, trends & data

    • Halogen displacement reaction and reactivity trend

    • Reactions of halogens with other elements

    • Reaction between halide salts and conc. sulfuric acid

    • Tests for halogens and halide ions

    • Extraction of halogens from natural sources

    • Uses of halogens & compounds

    • Oxidation & Reduction - more on redox reactions of halogens & halide ions

    • Volumetric analysis - titrations involving halogens or halide ions

    • Chemical bonding in halogen compounds

  • Group 0/18 Noble Gases: Xenon fluorides.

    • Group 0/18 The Noble Gases including xenon fluorides

• Transition elements (3d series)

  • Definition, general characteristics, oxidation states and their stabilities, colour (excluding the details of electronic transitions) and calculation of spin-only magnetic moment; Coordination compounds: nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds, cis-trans and ionisation isomerisms, hybridization and geometries of mononuclear coordination compounds (linear, tetrahedral, square planar and octahedral).

    • Introduction 3d-block Transition Metals

    • Scandium * Titanium * Vanadium * Chromium * Manganese * Iron

    • Cobalt * Nickel * Copper * Zinc *  Other Transition Metals e.g. Ag and Pt

    • Hydrated salts, acidity of hexa-aqua ions

    • Complexes & ligands

    • Complexes and isomerism

    • Electron configuration & colour theory

    • Redox equations, feasibility, E^ø

    • Catalysis

    • Redox equations

    • Stability Constants and entropy changes

    • Colorimetric analysis and complex ion formula

    • 3d block - extended data

    • Some 3d-block compounds, complexes, oxidation states & electrode potential chart

    • Hydroxide complex precipitate 'pictures', formulae and equations

• Preparation and properties of the following compounds

  • Oxides and chlorides of tin and lead; Oxides, chlorides and sulphates of Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺

    • Acid reactions with metals, oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and neutralisation reactions

    • Four methods of making salts

  • Potassium permanganate, potassium dichromate, silver oxide, silver nitrate, silver thiosulphate.

    • Redox reactions of Chromium compounds

    • Redox reactions of Manganese compounds

    • Other Transition Metals e.g. Ag and Pt includes aspects of silver chemistry

• Ores and minerals

  • Commonly occurring ores and minerals of iron, copper, tin, lead, magnesium, aluminium, zinc and silver.

    • -

• Extractive metallurgy

  • Chemical principles and reactions only (industrial details excluded); Carbon reduction method (iron and tin); Self reduction method (copper and lead); Electrolytic reduction method (magnesium and aluminium); Cyanide process (silver and gold).

    • Introduction to Metal Extraction
    • Extraction of Iron and Steel Making
    • Extraction of Aluminium and Sodium
    • Extraction and Purification of Copper
    • Extraction of Zinc, Titanium and Chromium
    • Economic & environmental Issues - metal extraction

• Principles of qualitative analysis

  • Groups I to V (only Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Bi³⁺, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Mg²⁺); Nitrate, halides (excluding fluoride), sulphate and sulphide.

    • Tests for metal cations (positive ions), metal carbonates, ammonium ion, hydrogen ions (acids)

    • Tests for anions (negative ions) including hydroxide (alkalis)

Organic Chemistry

• Concepts

  • Hybridisation of carbon; Sigma and pi-bonds

    • -

  • Shapes of simple organic molecules

    • Shapes and bond angles of organic molecules

  • Structural and geometrical isomerism; Optical isomerism of compounds containing up to two asymmetric centres, (R/S and E/Z nomenclature excluded)

    • ISOMERISM general introduction-definition

    • STRUCTURAL ISOMERISM general definition

    • Chain isomerism

    • Positional isomerism

    • Functional group isomerism

    • Tautomerism

    • STEREOISOMERISM general definition

    • E/Z ('ex' Geometric/Geometrical cis/trans) Isomerism

    • R/S Optical Isomerism

  • IUPAC nomenclature of simple organic compounds (only hydrocarbons, mono-functional and bi-functional compounds)

    • Summary of homologous series, functional group names and structure & links to nomenclature for each series

    • See also individual links below

  • Conformations of ethane and butane (Newman projections)

    • -

  • Resonance and hyperconjugation; Keto-enol tautomerism

    • -

  • Determination of empirical and molecular formulae of simple compounds (only combustion method)

    • -

  • Hydrogen bonds: definition and their effects on physical properties of alcohols and carboxylic acids

    • -

  • Inductive and resonance effects on acidity and basicity of organic acids and bases

    • -

  • Polarity and inductive effects in alkyl halides

    • See the chemistry of haloalkanes/alkyl halides

  • Reactive intermediates produced during homolytic and heterolytic bond cleavage; Formation, structure and stability of carbocations, carbanions and free radicals.

    • Introduction to mechanisms and some terms used in organic chemistry

• Preparation, properties and reactions of alkanes

  • Homologous series, physical properties of alkanes (melting points, boiling points and density); Combustion and halogenation of alkanes

    • The structure & naming (nomenclature) of ALKANES (and cycloalkanes) including nomenclature of isomers

    • Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of alkanes
    • Type in name  Quiz on the structure & naming of ALKANES (and nomenclature of cycloalkanes)

    • ALKANES - introduction

    to their chemistry

    • Free radical chlorination/bromination to give halogenoalkanes (haloalkanes, alkyl halides)

    • ALKANES - saturated hydrocarbons, combustion, reaction with chlorine

  • Preparation of alkanes by Wurtz reaction and decarboxylation reactions

    • -

• Preparation, properties and reactions of alkenes and alkynes

  • Physical properties of alkenes and alkynes (boiling points, density and dipole moments)

    • Structure and naming of ALKENES (including cyclo..), including nomenclature of many isomers

    • Multiple choice Quiz on the Structure and naming (nomenclature) of ALKENES
    • Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of ALKENES

  • Acidity of alkynes

    • -

  • Acid catalysed hydration of alkenes and alkynes (excluding the stereochemistry of addition and elimination). Reactions of alkenes with KMnO₄ and ozone; Reduction of alkenes and alkynes; Preparation of alkenes and alkynes by elimination reactions; Electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes with X₂, HX, HOX and H₂O (X=halogen); Addition reactions of alkynes; Metal acetylides.

    • ALKENES - introduction to their chemistry

    • Electrophilic addition of hydrogen bromide [HBr_{(conc. aq)} and HBr_{(g/non-polar solvent)}] to form halogenoalkanes

    • Electrophilic addition of pure bromine or in non-polar solvent (non-aqueous Br_2(l/solvent)) to give dibromoalkanes

    • Electrophilic addition of  bromine water [aqueous Br_2(aq)] to give bromo-alcohols

    • Electrophilic addition of sulphuric acid

    • Electrophilic addition of water [acid catalyst] to form alcohols

    • Free radical polymerisation to give poly(alkene) polymers

    • Hydrogenation-reduction to give saturated alkanes (in kinetics notes)

    • Elimination of hydrogen bromide from haloalkanes to form alkenes [E1 and E2]

• Reactions of benzene
  • Structure and aromaticity; Electrophilic substitution reactions: halogenation, nitration, sulphonation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation and acylation; Effect of  o-, m- and p-directing groups in monosubstituted benzenes.

    • AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS - introduction to arene electrophilic substitutions

    • Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of Aromatic Compounds

    • Nitration to give nitro-aromatics like nitrobenzene

    • Chlorination to chloro-aromatics like chlorobenzene

    • Alkylation to give alkyl-aromatics like methylbenzene [Friedel-Crafts reaction]

    • Acylation to give aromatic ketones [Friedel-Crafts reaction]

    • Sulphonation/sulfonation to give a sulphonic/sulfonic acid like benzenesulphonic acid/benzenesulfonic acid

    • The orientation of products in aromatic substitution (1,5/3,5/4 positions, ortho/meta/para substitution products)

• Phenols
  • Acidity, electrophilic substitution reactions (halogenation, nitration and sulphonation); Reimer-Tieman reaction, Kolbe reaction.
    • -
• Characteristic reactions of the following (including those mentioned above)
  • Alkyl halides (haloalkanes/halogenoalkanes): rearrangement reactions of alkyl carbocation, Grignard reactions,  nucleophilic substitution reactions
    • Structure and naming of HALOALKANES (notes parts 1-3), including nomenclature of many isomers

    • Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of HALOALKANES (haloalkanes)

    • Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of HALOALKANES

  • Alcohols: esterification, dehydration and oxidation, reaction with sodium, phosphorus halides, ZnCl₂/concentrated HCl, conversion of alcohols into aldehydes and ketones.
    • Structure and naming (nomenclature) of aliphatic ALCOHOLS & ETHERS

    • Multiple choice Quiz on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of aliphatic ALCOHOLS and ETHERS

    • Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of aliphatic ALCOHOLS and ETHERS

    • Organic redox synthesis oxidations - including oxidation of alcohols
  • Ethers:Preparation by Williamson Synthesis.
    • -
  • Aldehydes and Ketones: oxidation, reduction, oxime and hydrazone formation; aldol condensation, Perkin reaction; Cannizzaro reaction; haloform reaction and nucleophilic addition reactions (Grignard addition).
    • Structure and Naming of Aldehydes and Ketones, including nomenclature of isomers
    • Multiple choice on the structure and naming (nomenclature) of Aldehydes and Ketones
    • Type in name Quiz on the nomenclature of Aldehydes and Ketones

    • Carbonyl compounds - ALDEHYDES and KETONES - introduction to their chemistry

    • Nucleophilic addition of hydrogen cyanide to form a hydroxy-nitrile

    • Addition of hydrogen - reduction with LiAlH₄ or NaBH₄ to give alcohols

    • Organic redox synthesis oxidations - including oxidation of aldehydes
  • Carboxylic acids: formation of esters, acid chlorides and amides, ester hydrolysis.
    • Structure and naming of CARBOXYLIC ACIDS and DERIVATIVES, including nomenclature of isomers

    • ACID CHLORIDES - introduction - all nucleophilic addition-elimination reactions

    • Hydrolysis of acid chlorides with water to give a carboxylic acid

    • Esterification of acid chlorides with alcohols to give an ester

    • Amide formation from reaction of acid chlorides with ammonia or primary amines

  • Amines: basicity of substituted anilines and aliphatic amines, preparation from nitro compounds, reaction with nitrous acid, azo coupling reaction of diazonium salts of aromatic amines, Sandmeyer and related reactions of diazonium salts; carbylamine reaction.
    • Structure, Classification and Naming of Organic Nitrogen Compounds, including nomenclature of isomers
    • Organic redox synthesis reductions - including reduction of aromatic nitro-compounds
  • Haloarenes: nucleophilic aromatic substitution in haloarenes and substituted haloarenes (excluding Benzyne mechanism and Cine substitution).
    • -
• Carbohydrates
  • Classification; mono- and di-saccharides (glucose and sucrose); Oxidation, reduction, glycoside formation and hydrolysis of sucrose.
    • Natural Molecules - carbohydrates - sugars - starch
• Amino acids and peptides
  • General structure (only primary structure for peptides) and physical properties.
    • Structure, Classification and Naming of Organic Nitrogen Compounds, including amino acids
    • Protein-enzyme structure
• Properties and uses of some important polymers
  • Natural rubber, cellulose, nylon, teflon and PVC.
    • Polymerisation - Polymers poly(ethene), poly(propene), polystyrene, plastics, uses & problems
    • More on addition polymers like PVC and condensation polymers like Nylon and PVC

    • Natural Molecules - structure of starch & cellulose

• Practical organic chemistry
  • Detection of elements (N, S, halogens)
    • -
  • Detection and identification of the following functional groups: hydroxyl (alcoholic and phenolic), carbonyl (aldehyde and ketone), carboxyl, amino and nitro.
    • Qualitative tests to identify organic molecule functional groups of homologous series
  • Chemical methods of separation of mono-functional organic compounds from binary mixtures.
    • -

You can find many links to past papers on the web, but as yet I haven't listed any internet links