NEET Inorganic Chemistry NCERT Memorisation Guide
Memorise NEET inorganic chemistry from NCERT using periodic trend tables, a short exceptions list, smart mnemonics and a spaced revision schedule.
Edurack Team
October 18, 2026
Inorganic chemistry rewards students who treat NCERT as a text to be learned line by line. NEET inorganic chemistry NCERT questions are often direct: a trend, an exception, a colour, a property. The good news is that most of it follows trends, and the exceptions are a short, learnable list.
Start with trends, then add exceptions
Memorising isolated facts does not last. Learn the general trend first so that you can predict most answers, then keep a short exceptions list for the places where the trend breaks. Our general Chemistry preparation strategy explains how to split time among physical, organic and inorganic sections.
Periodic trends table
| Property | Across a period (left to right) | Down a group |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic radius | Decreases | Increases |
| Ionisation enthalpy | Generally increases | Decreases |
| Electronegativity | Increases | Decreases |
| Metallic character | Decreases | Increases |
| Electron gain enthalpy (magnitude) | Generally becomes more negative | Generally less negative |
The reason is simple. Across a period, nuclear charge rises while shells stay the same, so the nucleus pulls electrons harder. Down a group, new shells are added, and the outer electrons sit farther away and are shielded.
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The exceptions that matter
The famous trend breaks come from stability of filled and half-filled subshells, and from tiny size effects.
| Topic | General trend | Exception |
|---|---|---|
| First ionisation enthalpy, period 2 | Increases left to right | Be is higher than B, and N is higher than O |
| First ionisation enthalpy, period 3 | Increases left to right | Mg is higher than Al, and P is higher than S |
| Electron gain enthalpy, group 17 | Becomes less negative down the group | Cl is more negative than F |
| Electron gain enthalpy, group 16 | Less negative down the group | S is more negative than O |
| Electronic configuration, d-block | Fill 4s then 3d | Cr is and Cu is |
Group-wise facts to revise
s-block
Down group 2, the solubility of hydroxides increases, while the solubility of sulphates decreases. The thermal stability of carbonates increases down the group. Lithium behaves differently from the rest of group 1 and shows a diagonal relationship with magnesium, and beryllium with aluminium. These anomalies are NCERT favourites.
p-block
Remember the inert pair effect: down groups 13 to 15, the lower oxidation state becomes more stable, so is more stable than . Across a period, oxides change from basic to amphoteric to acidic.
d-block
Learn the lanthanoid contraction: the gradual decrease in size across the lanthanoids, due to poor shielding by 4f electrons, makes the second and third row transition metals very similar in size.
Mnemonics approach
Mnemonics work best for ordered lists with no logic, and badly for things you can reason out. Use them only for the first kind.
- Make your own. A silly sentence you invent sticks better than one you borrow.
- Pair with a picture. Attach a visual to each mnemonic.
- Test the mnemonic. Check that every item is correct against NCERT, because a wrong mnemonic is worse than none.
- Retire it. Once you know the list, stop using the crutch.
A good example is the reactivity or order idea: build one sentence from the first letters of the elements in sequence, then write the property beside each letter.
A revision schedule
| Day | Task | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Read one NCERT inorganic section slowly, underline facts | 45 min |
| 2 | Convert it to a table or card | 30 min |
| 4 | Recall from the card without looking | 20 min |
| 8 | Recall again and fix gaps | 15 min |
| 21 | Final recall | 10 min |
This spacing follows the same logic as our spaced repetition revision guide. Finally, check the paper analysis to see how inorganic questions have been framed, and then test yourself with free NEET practice.
Practise Chemistry PYQs free →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is inorganic chemistry only memorisation?
Mostly it is trends plus a limited set of exceptions. Learn the reasoning for each trend and the facts become easier to hold.
Should I read NCERT line by line?
Yes, for inorganic chemistry NCERT is the main source, including tables, footnotes and examples.
How do I remember exceptions?
Keep an exceptions card for each trend and revise it on a spaced schedule, adding the reason for each exception.
Are mnemonics a good idea?
They are useful for arbitrary lists, but verify each against NCERT and do not use them for things you can derive.
How much weight does inorganic carry?
It varies year to year. See the chapter-wise weightage page and the official NTA bulletin for the syllabus.