CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus 2026–27 Updated Curriculum

CHEMISTRY

(Code No. 043) (2022-2023)

Higher Secondary is the most crucial stage of school education because specialized discipline-based, content-oriented courses are introduced at this juncture. Students reach this stage after 10 years of general education and opt for Chemistry to pursue their career in basic sciences or professional courses like medicine, engineering, technology and study courses in applied areas of science and technology at the tertiary level. Therefore, there is a need to provide learners with sufficient conceptual background in Chemistry, which will make them competent to meet the challenges of academic and professional courses after the senior secondary stage.

The new and updated curriculum is based on a disciplinary approach with rigour and depth taking care that the syllabus is not heavy and at the same time it is comparable to the international level. The knowledge related to the subject of Chemistry has undergone tremendous changes during the past decade. Many new areas like synthetic materials, biomolecules, natural resources, and industrial chemistry are coming in a big way and deserve to be an integral part of the chemistry syllabus at the senior secondary stage. At the international level, new formulations and nomenclature of elements and compounds, symbols and units of physical quantities floated by scientific bodies like IUPAC and CGPM are of immense importance and need to be incorporated into the updated syllabus. The revised syllabus takes care of all these aspects. Greater emphasis has been laid on the use of new nomenclature, symbols and formulations, the teaching of fundamental concepts, application of concepts in chemistry to industry/ technology, logical sequencing of units, removal of obsolete content and repetition, etc.

OBJECTIVES

The curriculum of Chemistry at Senior Secondary Stage aims to:

• promote understanding of basic facts and concepts in chemistry while retaining the excitement of
• make students capable of studying chemistry in academic and professional courses (such as medicine, engineering, technology) at tertiary
• expose the students to various emerging new areas of chemistry and apprise them with their relevance in future studies and their application in various spheres of chemical sciences and
• equip students to face various challenges related to health, nutrition, environment, population, weather, industries and agriculture.
• develop problem solving skills in
• expose the students to different processes used in industries and their technological
• apprise students with interface of chemistry with other disciplines of science such as physics, biology, geology, engineering etc.
• acquaint students with different aspects of chemistry used in daily
• develop an interest in students to study chemistry as a discipline.
• integrate life skills and values in the context of

COURSE STRUCTURE

CLASS–XI (THEORY) (2022-23)

Time:3Hours Total Marks70

Unit I: Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry 18 Periods General Introduction: Importance and scope of Chemistry. Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton’s atomic theory: concept of elements, atoms and molecules. Atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition, empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations based on stoichiometry.

Unit II: Structure of Atom 20 Periods

Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron, atomic number, isotopes and isobars. Thomson’s model and its limitations. Rutherford’s model and its limitations, Bohr’s model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and light, de Broglie’s relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals, quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals – Aufbau principle, Pauli’s exclusion principle and Hund’s rule, electronic configuration of atoms, stability of half-filled and completely filled orbitals.

Unit III: Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties 12 Periods

Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, electronegativity, valency. Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100.

Unit IV: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure 20 Periods Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis’s structure, polar character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization,

involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), Hydrogen bond.

Unit VI: Chemical Thermodynamics 23 Periods Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics -internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat, measurement of ΔU and ΔH, Hess’s law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution. Second law of Thermodynamics (brief introduction) Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb’s energy change for spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes, criteria for equilibrium. Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).

Unit VII: Equilibrium 20 Periods

Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium – Le Chatelier’s principle, ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion effect (with illustrative examples).

Unit VIII: Redox Reactions 09 Periods

Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications of redox reactions.

Unit XII: Organic Chemistry -Some Basic Principles and Techniques 20 Periods General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds. Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance and hyper conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.

Unit XIII: Hydrocarbons 18 Periods

Classification of Hydrocarbons Aliphatic Hydrocarbons:

Alkanes – Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties, chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation, combustion and pyrolysis.

Alkenes – Nomenclature, the structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markovnikov’s addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition.

Alkynes – Nomenclature, the structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of – hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons:

Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration, sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft’s alkylation and acylation, directive influence of the functional group in monosubstituted benzene. Carcinogenicity and toxicity.

PRACTICALS

3 HOURS/ 30 Marks

PRACTICAL SYLLABUS Total Periods: 60

Micro-chemical methods are available for several of the practical experiments, wherever possible such techniques should be used.

A. Basic Laboratory Techniques

1. Cutting glass tube and glass rod
2. Bending a glass tube
3. Drawing out a glass jet
4. Boring a cork

B. Characterization and Purification of Chemical Substances

1. Determination of melting point of an organic
2. Determination of boiling point of an organic
3. Crystallization of impure sample of any one of the following: Alum, Copper Sulphate, Benzoic

C. Experiments based on pH

1. Any one of the following experiments:
   • Determination of pH of some solutions obtained from fruit juices, solution of known and varied concentrations of acids, bases and salts using pH paper or universal

• Comparing the pH of solutions of strong and weak acids of same Study the pH change in the titration of a strong base using universal indicator.

2. Study the pH change by common-ion in case of weak acids and weak

D. Chemical Equilibrium

One of the following experiments:

1. Study the shift in equilibrium between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions by increasing/decreasing the concentration of either of the ions.
2. Study the shift in equilibrium between [Co(H3O)6]²⁺ and chloride ions by changing the concentration of either of the ions.

E. Quantitative Estimation

1. Using a mechanical balance/electronic
2. Preparation of standard solution of Oxalic acid.
3. Determination of strength of a given solution of Sodium hydroxide by titrating it against standard solution of Oxalic
4. Preparation of standard solution of Sodium carbonate.
5. Determination of strength of a given solution of hydrochloric acid by titrating it against standard Sodium Carbonate

F. Qualitative Analysis

1. Determination of one anion and one cation in a given salt

Cation:

Pb^2+, Cu²⁺ As³⁺, Aℓ³⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH ⁺

Anions:

(CO3)^2-, S^2-, (SO3)^2-, (NO2)^–, (SO4)^2-, Cℓ^–, Br^–, I^–, (PO4)^3-, (C2O4)^2-, CH3COO^-, NO ^–

(Note: Insoluble salts excluded)

2. Detection of -Nitrogen, Sulphur, Chlorine in organic

G. PROJECTS

Scientific investigations involving laboratory testing and collecting information from other sources.

A few suggested Projects

• Checking the bacterial contamination in drinking water by testing sulphide ion
• Study of the methods of purification of water
• Testing the hardness, presence of Iron, Fluoride, Chloride, etc., depending upon the regional variation in drinking water and study of causes of presence of these ions above permissible limit (if any).
• Investigation of the foaming capacity of different washing soaps and the effect of addition of Sodium carbonate on it
• Study the acidity of different samples of tea
• Determination of the rate of evaporation of different
• Study the effect of acids and bases on the tensile strength of
• Study of acidity of fruit and vegetable

Note: Any other investigatory project, which involves about 10 periods of work, can be chosen with the approval of the teacher.

PRACTICAL EXAMINATION FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS

Note: Same Evaluation scheme and general guidelines for visually impaired students as given for Class XII may be followed.

A. List of apparatus for identification for assessment in practical (All experiments)

Beaker, tripod stand, wire gauze, glass rod, funnel, filter paper, Bunsen burner, test-tube, test-tube stand, dropper, test tube holder, ignition tube, china dish, tongs, standard flask, pipette, burette, conical flask, clamp stand, dropper, wash bottle

• Odour detection in qualitative analysis
• Procedure/Setup of the apparatus

B. List of Experiments A. Characterization and Purification of Chemical Substances

1. Crystallization of an impure sample of any one of the following: copper sulphate, benzoic acid

C. Experiments based on pH

1. Determination of pH of some solutions obtained from fruit juices, solutions of known and varied concentrations of acids, bases and salts using pH paper
2. Comparing the pH of solutions of strong and weak acids of same

D. Chemical Equilibrium

1. Study the shift in equilibrium between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions by increasing/decreasing the concentration of either
2. Study the shift in equilibrium between [Co(H3O)6]²⁺ and chloride ions by changing the concentration of either of the

E. Quantitative estimation

1. Preparation of standard solution of oxalic
2. Determination of molarity of a given solution of sodium hydroxide by titrating it against standard solution of oxalic

F. Qualitative Analysis

1. Determination of one anion and one cation in a given salt
2. Cations – NH4 +

Anions – (CO3)^2-, S^2-, (SO3)^2-, Cl^–, CH3COO^–

(Note: insoluble salts excluded)

3. Detection of Nitrogen in the given organic
4. Detection of Halogen in the given organic

Note: The above practical may be carried out in an experiential manner rather than recording observations.

PRESCRIBED BOOKS:

2. Chemistry Part – I, Class-XI, Published by
3. Chemistry Part – II, Class-XI, Published by

3. Laboratory Manual of Chemistry, Class XI Published by NCERT

4. Other related books and manuals of NCERT including multimedia and online sources

Note:

The content indicated in NCERT textbooks as excluded for the year 2022-23 is not to be tested by schools.

CLASS XII (2022-23) (THEORY)

Time: 3 Hours 70 Marks

Unit II: Solutions 15 Periods

Types of solutions, expression of concentration of solutions of solids in liquids, solubility of gases in liquids, solid solutions, Raoult’s law, colligative properties – relative lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, osmotic pressure, determination of molecular masses using colligative properties, abnormal molecular mass, Van’t Hoff factor.

Unit III: Electrochemistry 18 Periods

Redox reactions, 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, 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, fuel cells, corrosion.

Unit IV: Chemical Kinetics 15 Periods

Rate of a reaction (Average and instantaneous), factors affecting rate of reaction: concentration, temperature, catalyst; 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.

Unit VIII: d and f Block Elements 18 Periods

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence and characteristics of transition metals, general trends in properties of the first-row transition metals – metallic character, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, magnetic

properties, interstitial compounds, alloy formation, preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.

Lanthanoids –

Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity and lanthanoid contraction and its consequences.

Actinoids – Electronic configuration, oxidation states and comparison with lanthanoids.

Unit IX: Coordination Compounds 18 Periods

Coordination compounds – Introduction, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties and shapes, IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds. Bonding, Werner’s theory, VBT, and CFT; structure and stereoisomerism, the importance of coordination compounds (in qualitative analysis, extraction of metals and biological system).

Unit X: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes. 15 Periods

Haloalkanes: Nomenclature, nature of C–X bond, physical and chemical properties, optical rotation mechanism of substitution reactions.

Haloarenes: Nature of C–X bond, substitution reactions (Directive influence of halogen in monosubstituted compounds only). Uses and environmental effects of – dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, DDT.

Unit XI: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers 14 Periods

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.

Unit XII: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids 15 Periods

Aldehydes and Ketones: Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, mechanism of nucleophilic addition, reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes, uses.

Carboxylic Acids: Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties; uses.

Unit XIII: Amines 14 Periods

Amines: Nomenclature, classification, structure, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, uses, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines.

Diazonium salts: Preparation, chemical reactions and importance in synthetic organic chemistry.

Unit XIV: Biomolecules 18 Periods

Carbohydrates – Classification (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), D-L configuration oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose), polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, glycogen); Importance of carbohydrates.

Proteins –Elementary idea of – amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, structure of proteins – primary, secondary, tertiary structure and quaternary structures (qualitative idea only), denaturation of proteins; enzymes. Hormones – Elementary idea excluding structure.

Vitamins – Classification and functions.

Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA.

Note:

The content indicated in NCERT textbooks as excluded for the year 2022-23 is not to be tested by schools.

PRACTICALS

3 HOURS/ 30 MARKS

PRACTICAL SYLLABUS 60 Periods

Micro-chemical methods are available for several of practical experiments. Wherever possible, such techniques should be used.

A. Surface Chemistry

• Preparation of one lyophilic and one lyophobic sol Lyophilic sol – starch, egg albumin and gum

Lyophobic sol – aluminium hydroxide, ferric hydroxide, arsenous sulphide.

• Dialysis of sol-prepared in (a)
• Study of the role of emulsifying agents in stabilizing the emulsion of different

B. Chemical Kinetics

• Effect of concentration and temperature on the rate of reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric acid.
• Study of reaction rates of any one of the following:
  • Reaction of Iodide ion with Hydrogen Peroxide at room temperature using different concentrations of Iodide ions.
• Reaction between Potassium Iodate, (KIO3) and Sodium Sulphite: (Na2SO3) using starch solution as an indicator (clock reaction).

C. Thermochemistry

Any one of the following experiments

• Enthalpy of dissolution of Copper Sulphate or Potassium
• Enthalpy of neutralization of strong acid (HCI) and strong base (NaOH).
• Determination of enthaply change during interaction (Hydrogen bond formation) between Acetone and

D. Electrochemistry

Variation of cell potential in Zn/Zn²⁺|| Cu²⁺/Cu with change in concentration of electrolytes (CuSO4 or ZnSO4) at room temperature.

E. Chromatography

• Separation of pigments from extracts of leaves and flowers by paper chromatography and determination of Rf
• Separation of constituents present in an inorganic mixture containing two cations only (constituents having large difference in Rf values to be provided).

F. Preparation of Inorganic Compounds

Preparation of double salt of Ferrous Ammonium Sulphate or Potash Alum. Preparation of Potassium Ferric Oxalate.

G. Preparation of Organic Compounds

Preparation of any one of the following compounds

1. i) Acetanilide ii) Di -benzalAcetone iii) p-Nitroacetanilide iv) Aniline yellow or 2 – Naphthol

H. Tests for the functional groups present in organic compounds:

Unsaturation, alcoholic, phenolic, aldehydic, ketonic, carboxylic and amino (Primary) groups.

I. Characteristic tests of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in pure samples and their detection in given foodstuffs.

1. Determination of concentration/ molarity of KMnO4 solution by titrating it against a standard solution of:
   • Oxalic acid,
   • Ferrous Ammonium Sulphate

(Students will be required to prepare standard solutions by weighing themselves).

K. Qualitative analysis

Determination of one anion and one cation in a given salt

Cation:

Pb^2+, Cu²⁺ As³⁺, Aℓ³⁺, Fe³⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, NH4+

Anions:

(CO3)^2-, S^2-, (SO3)^2-, (NO2)^–, (SO4)^2-, Cℓ^–, Br^–, I^–, (PO4)^3-, (C2O4)^2-, CH3COO^– , NO ^–

(Note: Insoluble salts excluded)

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Scientific investigations involving laboratory testing and collecting information from other sources A few suggested Projects.

• Study of the presence of oxalate ions in guava fruit at different stages of
• Study the quantity of casein present in different samples of
• Preparation of soybean milk and its comparison with natural milk with respect to curd formation, the effect of temperature,
• Study of the effect of Potassium Bisulphate as a food preservative under various conditions (temperature, concentration, time, )
• Study of digestion of starch by salivary amylase and effect of pH and temperature on
• Comparative study of the rate of fermentation of the following materials: wheat flour, gram flour, potato juice, carrot juice,
• Extraction of essential oils present in Saunf (aniseed), Ajwain (carum), Illaichi (cardamom).
• Study of common food adulterants in fat, oil, butter, sugar, turmeric power, chilli powder and pepper.

Note: Any other investigatory project, which involves about 10 periods of work, can be chosen with the approval of the teacher.

Practical Examination for Visually Impaired Students of Classes XI and XII Evaluation Scheme

Time Allowed: Two hours Max. Marks:30

General Guidelines

• The practical examination will be of two hours
• A separate list of ten experiments is included
• The written examination in practicals for these students will be conducted at the time of the practical examination of all other
• The written test will be of 30 minutes
• The question paper given to the students should be legibly It should contain a total of 15 practical skill-based very short answer type questions. A student would be required to answer any 10 questions.
• A writer may be allowed to such students as per CBSE examination
• All questions included in the question papers should be related to the listed Every question should require about two minutes to be answered.
• These students are also required to maintain a practical A student is expected to record at least five of the listed experiments as per the specific instructions for each subject. These practicals should be duly checked and signed by the internal examiner.
• The format of writing any experiment in the practical file should include aim, apparatus required, simple theory, procedure, related practical skills, precautions
• Questions may be generated jointly by the external/internal examiners and used for
• The viva questions may include questions based on basic theory/principle/concept, apparatus/materials/ chemicals required, procedure, precautions, sources of error

1. Items for Identification/Familiarity of the apparatus for assessment in practical (All experiments)

Beaker, glass rod, tripod stand, wire gauze, Bunsen burner, Whatman filter paper, gas jar, capillary tube, pestle and mortar, test tubes, tongs, test tube holder, test tube stand, burette, pipette, conical flask, standard flask, clamp stand, funnel, filter paper

Hands-on Assessment

• Identification/familiarity with the apparatus
• Odour detection in qualitative analysis

2. List of Practicals

The experiments have been divided into two sections: Section A and Section B.

The experiments mentioned in Section B are mandatory.

SECTION- A

A Surface Chemistry

1 Preparation of one lyophilic and one lyophobic sol – starch, egg albumin and gum 2 Preparation of one lyophobic sol– Ferric hydroxide

B Chromatography

Separation of pigments from extracts of leaves and flowers by paper chromatography and determination of Rf values (distance values may be provided).

C Tests for the functional groups present in organic compounds:

• Alcoholic and Carboxylic
• Aldehydic and Ketonic

D Characteristic tests of carbohydrates and proteins in the given foodstuffs.

• Preparation of Inorganic Compounds- Potash Alum

SECTION-B (Mandatory)

F Quantitative analysis

• (a) Preparation of the standard solution of Oxalic acid of a given volume

(b) Determination of molarity of KMnO4 solution by titrating it against a standard solution of Oxalic acid.

• The above exercise [F 1 (a) and (b)] to be conducted using Ferrous ammonium sulphate (Mohr’s salt)

G Qualitative analysis:

(1) Determination of one cation and one anion in a given salt. Cation –NH ⁺

Anions – CO ^2-, S^2-, SO ^2-, Cl^–, CH COO^–

(Note: Insoluble salts excluded)

Note: The above practical may be carried out in an experiential manner rather than recording observations.

PRESCRIBED BOOKS

1. Chemistry Part -I, Class-XII, Published by
2. Chemistry Part -II, Class-XII, Published by
3. Laboratory Manual of Chemistry, Class XI Published by NCERT
4. Other related books and manuals of NCERT including multimedia and online sources

QUESTION PAPER DESIGN CLASSES –XI and XII (2022-23)

For more details kindly refer to Sample Question Paper of class XII for the year 2022- 23 to be published by CBSE at its website.