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UPSC NDA Chemistry Syllabus

The Chemistry syllabus for UPSC NDA in full: 9 chapters, every one listed below, plus 51 Chemistry flashcards with answers.

9Chapters

51Flashcards

Chemistry syllabus: all 9 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

Elements and Compounds
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Mixtures and Solutions
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Acids, Bases, and Salts
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Atomic Structure
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Chemical Reactions
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Periodic Table
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Metals and Non-metals
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Organic Chemistry
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.
Environmental Chemistry
overview

No separate topics listed for this chapter.

UPSC NDA Chemistry flashcards — 51 questions with answers

What is matter, and what are its three common physical states?
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Its three common states are solid, liquid, and gas.
What is an element?
A pure substance made of only one kind of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means (e.g., oxygen, gold).
What is a compound?
A pure substance formed when two or more elements combine chemically in a fixed ratio by mass (e.g., water, H2O).
How does a mixture differ from a compound?
A mixture is a physical combination of substances in any ratio that retain their properties and can be separated physically; a compound is a chemical combination in a fixed ratio with new properties.
What are the three subatomic particles and their charges?
Proton (+1), neutron (0, neutral), and electron (-1).
Define atomic number and mass number.
Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in the nucleus. Mass number (A) = number of protons + neutrons.
What are isotopes?
Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number (protons) but different mass numbers (different numbers of neutrons), e.g., C-12 and C-14.
State the law of conservation of mass.
In a chemical reaction, mass is neither created nor destroyed; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.
What is Avogadro's number, and what does one mole represent?
Avogadro's number is 6.022 x 10^23. One mole is the amount of substance containing this many particles (atoms, molecules, or ions).
How is an ionic bond formed?
By the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, producing oppositely charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction (e.g., NaCl).
How is a covalent bond formed?
By the mutual sharing of electron pairs between non-metal atoms (e.g., H2, O2, CH4).
What is the pH scale and what do its values indicate?
A 0-14 scale measuring acidity/alkalinity. pH < 7 is acidic, pH = 7 is neutral, pH > 7 is basic (alkaline).
According to Arrhenius, what are acids and bases?
An acid produces H+ (hydrogen) ions in water; a base produces OH- (hydroxide) ions in water.
What is produced when an acid reacts with a base?
Salt and water, in a neutralization reaction (e.g., HCl + NaOH -> NaCl + H2O).
What gas is released when a metal reacts with a dilute acid?
Hydrogen gas (H2).
What is oxidation in terms of electrons?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons (it also means gain of oxygen or loss of hydrogen).
What is reduction in terms of electrons?
Reduction is the gain of electrons (it also means loss of oxygen or gain of hydrogen).
What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without itself being consumed, by lowering the activation energy.
What is an allotrope? Give an example.
Different physical forms of the same element in the same physical state. Example: diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon.
Why is diamond hard while graphite is soft and slippery?
Diamond has a 3D tetrahedral network of strong covalent bonds; graphite has layers of carbon held by weak forces that slide over each other.

Show the other 31 Chemistry flashcards

What is the chemical formula of water, and what bond holds the atoms together?
H2O; two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom.
What are the main gases in the Earth's atmosphere by volume?
Nitrogen (~78%), oxygen (~21%), argon (~0.9%), and carbon dioxide (~0.04%).
What is combustion?
A rapid exothermic reaction of a substance with oxygen producing heat and light (e.g., burning of fuels).
Name the three types of combustion.
Rapid combustion, spontaneous combustion, and explosion (explosive combustion).
What is the difference between exothermic and endothermic reactions?
Exothermic reactions release heat to the surroundings; endothermic reactions absorb heat from the surroundings.
What is rusting and what conditions are required for it?
Rusting is the corrosion of iron forming hydrated iron(III) oxide (rust). It requires both oxygen and water (moisture).
What is an alloy? Give two examples.
A homogeneous mixture of a metal with one or more other elements. Examples: brass (copper + zinc) and bronze (copper + tin).
What is the chemical name and formula of common table salt?
Sodium chloride, NaCl.
What is the chemical name and formula of baking soda?
Sodium bicarbonate (sodium hydrogen carbonate), NaHCO3.
What is the chemical name and formula of washing soda?
Sodium carbonate decahydrate, Na2CO3.10H2O.
What is quicklime and what is its formula?
Quicklime is calcium oxide, CaO, produced by heating limestone (CaCO3).
What is the universal solvent and why?
Water, because its polarity allows it to dissolve a very large number of ionic and polar substances.
What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change?
A physical change alters form/state without forming new substances (reversible, e.g., melting ice); a chemical change forms new substances (usually irreversible, e.g., burning).
What is the valency of an element?
The combining capacity of an element, i.e., the number of electrons it loses, gains, or shares to achieve a stable octet.
State Newlands' Law of Octaves.
When elements are arranged by increasing atomic mass, every eighth element has properties similar to the first, like musical octaves.
On what basis is the modern periodic table arranged?
On increasing atomic number (number of protons), as per the Modern Periodic Law.
What are the most reactive metals and most reactive non-metals in the periodic table?
The most reactive metals are alkali metals (Group 1, e.g., caesium/francium); the most reactive non-metals are halogens (Group 17, e.g., fluorine).
What are noble gases and why are they inert?
Group 18 elements (He, Ne, Ar, etc.). They are chemically inert because they have a complete (stable) outermost electron shell.
What is the chemical formula and common name of CaCO3?
CaCO3 is calcium carbonate, commonly known as limestone, marble, or chalk.
What is hard water and what causes it?
Water that does not lather easily with soap, caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium salts (bicarbonates, chlorides, sulphates).
What is the main constituent of natural gas (LPG/CNG)?
CNG is mainly methane (CH4); LPG is mainly butane and propane.
What is photosynthesis in chemical terms?
The process where green plants use sunlight to convert CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen: 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2.
What is the chemical formula of sulphuric acid, and why is it called the 'king of chemicals'?
H2SO4. It is called the king of chemicals because of its vast industrial use in fertilizers, refining, and manufacturing.
What gas turns lime water milky, and what is formed?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) turns lime water milky by forming insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
What is the role of chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis.
What is the difference between an atom and an ion?
An atom is electrically neutral (protons = electrons); an ion is a charged species formed by an atom losing electrons (cation, +) or gaining electrons (anion, -).
What is the chemical formula of ammonia and one major use?
NH3; widely used in the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers (e.g., urea) and as a refrigerant.
What is electrolysis?
The decomposition of an ionic compound (molten or in solution) into its elements by passing an electric current through it.
What are the products of electrolysis of water?
Hydrogen gas at the cathode and oxygen gas at the anode, in a 2:1 volume ratio.
What is a saturated hydrocarbon? Give the general formula.
A hydrocarbon with only single C-C bonds (alkanes). General formula: CnH(2n+2), e.g., methane CH4, ethane C2H6.
What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid?
A strong acid ionizes completely in water (e.g., HCl, H2SO4); a weak acid ionizes only partially (e.g., acetic acid, carbonic acid).

UPSC NDA Chemistry FAQ

What is in the UPSC NDA Chemistry syllabus?

UPSC NDA Chemistry is split into 9 chapters: Elements and Compounds, Mixtures and Solutions, Acids, Bases, and Salts, Atomic Structure, Chemical Reactions, Periodic Table, Metals and Non-metals, Organic Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry.

How many chapters are in UPSC NDA Chemistry?

9 chapters.

Are there flashcards for UPSC NDA Chemistry?

Yes — a 51-card Chemistry deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.