CBSE Class 9 Science Syllabus

Science syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Science in CBSE Class 9, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Matter - Its Nature and Behaviour

   2 topics

   • Nature of Matter
   • Particle Nature and their Basic Units
2. 2

   Organisation in the Living World

   2 topics

   • Cell - Basic Unit of Life
   • Tissues, Organs, Organ System, Organism
3. 3

   Motion, Force and Work

   3 topics

   • Motion
   • Force and Laws of Motion
   • Gravitation
4. 4

   Our Environment

   2 topics

   • Physical Resources
   • Bio-geo Chemical Cycles
5. 5

   Food; Food Production

   2 topics

   • Sources of Food
   • Food Production

Science flashcards for CBSE Class 9

23 of 79 cards from the Science deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is matter?

   Anything that has mass and occupies space (volume). Everything around us is made of matter.

2. Name the five physical states of matter recognized by Indian philosophers as the 'Panch Tatva'.

   Air, earth, fire, sky (space), and water.

3. List the three physical states of matter and the key arrangement of particles in each.

   Solid (closely packed, fixed positions), liquid (loosely packed, can move), and gas (far apart, move freely and rapidly).

4. What are the three characteristic properties of the particles of matter?

   Particles have space between them, are continuously moving (possess kinetic energy), and attract each other (force of attraction).

5. Define diffusion and state how temperature affects its rate.

   Diffusion is the intermixing of particles of two different types of matter on their own. Its rate increases with an increase in temperature because particles gain kinetic energy.

6. Define melting point and boiling point.

   Melting point is the temperature at which a solid melts to become a liquid at atmospheric pressure. Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid boils to become a gas at atmospheric pressure.

7. What is latent heat of fusion?

   The amount of heat energy required to change 1 kg of a solid into liquid at its melting point, without any rise in temperature.

8. What is sublimation?

   The change of a solid directly into vapour (gas) without passing through the liquid state, and vice versa. Example: camphor, ammonium chloride.

9. Define evaporation and name the factors affecting its rate.

   Evaporation is the change of a liquid into vapour at any temperature below its boiling point. Rate increases with increase in surface area, temperature, and wind speed, and with decrease in humidity.

10. Why does evaporation cause cooling?

    During evaporation, particles of the liquid absorb energy (latent heat of vaporisation) from the surroundings to overcome attraction, lowering the temperature of the surroundings.

11. Who first used the term 'atom' and what did it mean?

    Maharishi Kanad (Indian philosopher) and Democritus/Leucippus (Greek). Atom means the smallest indivisible particle of matter; 'atom' comes from the Greek 'a-tomio' meaning uncuttable/indivisible.

12. State the law of conservation of mass.

    Mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

13. State the law of constant (definite) proportions.

    In a chemical compound, the elements are always present in definite proportions by mass, regardless of the source of the compound.

14. State the main postulates of Dalton's atomic theory.

    All matter is made of atoms; atoms are indivisible; atoms of a given element are identical in mass and chemistry; atoms of different elements differ; atoms combine in small whole-number ratios; atoms are neither created nor destroyed in reactions.

15. Define an atom and a molecule.

    An atom is the smallest particle of an element that may or may not exist independently. A molecule is the smallest particle of an element or compound capable of independent existence, formed by two or more atoms.

16. What is atomicity? Give an example of a diatomic and a triatomic molecule.

    Atomicity is the number of atoms in a molecule of an element. Diatomic example: O2 (oxygen). Triatomic example: O3 (ozone).

17. Define valency.

    Valency is the combining capacity of an element, i.e., the number of electrons an atom loses, gains, or shares to achieve a stable octet.

18. What is an ion? Distinguish between a cation and an anion.

    An ion is a charged particle. A cation is a positively charged ion (formed by losing electrons); an anion is a negatively charged ion (formed by gaining electrons).

19. Define atomic mass unit (u / amu).

    One atomic mass unit is a mass exactly equal to one-twelfth (1/12) the mass of one atom of carbon-12.

20. Define mole and state the value of Avogadro's number.

    A mole is the amount of substance containing the same number of particles (atoms/molecules/ions) as there are atoms in 12 g of carbon-12. Avogadro's number = 6.022 x 10^23 particles per mole.

21. Write the formula for molar mass and the number of particles using the mole concept.

    Number of moles = given mass / molar mass = number of particles / 6.022 x 10^23.

22. Who discovered the cell and who coined the term, observing it in cork?

    Robert Hooke discovered and coined the term 'cell' in 1665 while observing thin slices of cork under a microscope.

23. State the three main points of the cell theory.

    All living organisms are composed of cells; the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life; all cells arise from pre-existing cells. Proposed by Schleiden, Schwann, and Virchow.

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