JEE Main Chemistry syllabus 2026, unit-wise

Chemistry units and topics

1. Unit 1: Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry

   5.1% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #10

   Laws of chemical combination, atomic and molecular masses, mole concept, molar mass, percentage composition, empirical and molecular formulae, chemical equations and stoichiometry.

2. Unit 2: Atomic Structure

   5.2% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #9

   Bohr model, hydrogen spectrum, dual nature of matter, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, quantum mechanical model, quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, Aufbau principle, Pauli's exclusion principle, Hund's rule, electronic configuration.

3. Unit 3: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

   5.7% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #7

   Ionic and covalent bonding, lattice enthalpy, electronegativity, Fajan's rule, dipole moment, VSEPR theory, valence bond theory and hybridisation, resonance, molecular orbital theory and bond order, hydrogen bonding.

4. Unit 4: Chemical Thermodynamics

   4.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #12

   System and surroundings, state functions, first law, enthalpy, Hess's law, enthalpies of various processes, entropy, second law, spontaneity, Gibbs energy and the equilibrium constant.

5. Unit 5: Solutions

   5.5% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #8

   Concentration terms, Raoult's law, ideal and non-ideal solutions, colligative properties, molecular mass determination, van't Hoff factor.

6. Unit 6: Equilibrium

   4.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #13

   Dynamic equilibrium, Kp and Kc, Le Chatelier's principle, ionic equilibrium, acids and bases, pH, common ion effect, hydrolysis of salts, solubility product, buffer solutions, Henry's law.

7. Unit 7: Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry

   6.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #3

   Oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, conductance, Kohlrausch's law, electrochemical cells, electrode potentials, Nernst equation, relation to Gibbs energy, fuel cells.

8. Unit 8: Chemical Kinetics

   4.3% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #14

   Rate of reaction, rate law, order and molecularity, integrated rate equations for zero and first order, half-life, Arrhenius equation, activation energy, collision theory.

9. Unit 9: Classification of Elements and Periodicity

   3.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #16

   Modern periodic law, s-, p-, d- and f-block elements, periodic trends in radii, ionisation enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, valence and oxidation states.

10. Unit 10: p-Block Elements

    5.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #6

    Groups 13 to 18: electronic configuration, general trends in physical and chemical properties, unique behaviour of the first element in each group.

11. Unit 11: d- and f-Block Elements

    5% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #11

    Transition elements: configuration, first-row trends, oxidation states, colour, magnetic properties, catalysis, complex formation, K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4, lanthanoids and actinoids.

12. Unit 12: Coordination Compounds

    7.8% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #1

    Werner's theory, ligands, coordination number, IUPAC nomenclature, isomerism, valence bond approach, crystal field theory, colour and magnetic properties, importance of coordination compounds.

13. Unit 13: Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds

    3.6% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #18

    Crystallisation, sublimation, distillation, chromatography, qualitative detection of N, S, P and halogens, quantitative estimation, empirical and molecular formula calculations.

14. Unit 14: Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry

    6% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #4

    Hybridisation, functional groups, homologous series, isomerism, IUPAC nomenclature, bond fission, carbocations, carbanions, free radicals, inductive, electromeric, resonance and hyperconjugation effects, types of organic reactions.

15. Unit 15: Hydrocarbons

    5.9% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #5

    Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons: nomenclature, preparation, reactions, mechanisms of halogenation, electrophilic addition and electrophilic substitution, Friedel-Crafts reactions.

16. Unit 16: Organic Compounds Containing Halogens

    2.5% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #19

    Preparation, properties and reactions, nature of the C-X bond, substitution mechanisms, uses and environmental effects of chloroform, iodoform, freons and DDT.

17. Unit 17: Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen

    7.5% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #2

    Alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids: preparation, reactions, nucleophilic addition, Grignard reagent, aldol, Cannizzaro and haloform reactions, acidity.

18. Unit 18: Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen

    4.2% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #15

    Amines: classification, basic character, identification of primary, secondary and tertiary amines, diazonium salts and their importance in synthesis.

19. Unit 19: Biomolecules

    3.7% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #17

    Carbohydrates, proteins and amino acids, peptide bond, protein structure, enzymes, vitamins, nucleic acids, hormones.

20. Unit 20: Principles Related to Practical Chemistry

    2.1% of Chemistry in 2024–2026 · #20

    Detection of elements and functional groups, preparation of Mohr's salt, potash alum, acetanilide and iodoform, titrimetric exercises, qualitative salt analysis, enthalpy and kinetics experiments.

    Detection

    • Extra elements (nitrogen, sulphur, halogens) in organic compounds
    • Hydroxyl (alcoholic and phenolic), carbonyl (aldehydes and ketones), carboxyl and amino groups

    Preparations

    • Inorganic: Mohr's salt, potash alum
    • Organic: acetanilide, p-nitroacetanilide, aniline yellow, iodoform

    Titrations

    • Acids and bases with indicators
    • Oxalic acid against KMnO4
    • Mohr's salt against KMnO4

    Qualitative salt analysis

    • Cations: Pb2+, Cu2+, Al3+, Fe3+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, NH4+
    • Anions: CO3 2-, S2-, SO4 2-, NO3-, NO2-, Cl-, Br-, I- (insoluble salts excluded)

    Other experiments

    • Enthalpy of solution of CuSO4
    • Enthalpy of neutralisation of a strong acid and strong base
    • Preparation of lyophilic and lyophobic sols
    • Kinetic study of the reaction of iodide ions with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature

Not in this syllabus: General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals, States of Matter, Environmental Chemistry, Surface Chemistry, Hydrogen, s-Block Elements, Polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life. See removed chapters →

Frequently asked questions

Topic lists paraphrase the JEE Main 2026 syllabus published by NTA. Weightage figures come from the Careers360 JEE Main analysis for 2022–2026. Confirm the latest syllabus on the official NTA website.