CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2026-27

CHEMISTRY SUBJECT CODE: 043 CLASSES XII (2026-27)

Rationale

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

The new and updated curriculum is based on a disciplinary approach with rigour and depth ensuring that the syllabus is not heavy and at the same time it is comparable to that at the international level. The pedagogy of Chemistry has undergone tremendous changes in recent times. To keep pace with the developments in Chemistry, many new areas like green chemistry, material science, biomolecules, and industrial chemistry deserve to be an integral part of the chemistry syllabus at this stage. In addition, the nomenclature of elements and compounds; symbols, and units of physical quantities, recommended by scientific bodies like IUPAC and CGPM also need to be incorporated in the updated syllabus. The proposed syllabus takes due care to address these issues.

Objectives

The curriculum of Chemistry at the second phase of Secondary stage has been designed to:

equip the learners with tools to understand the working of Chemistry rather than mere facts of it;

develop the necessary conceptual foundations of chemistry and ability to apply them to real life situations;

• enable the learners to represent chemical phenomena at macroscopic, molecular, and symbolic levels;

make the learners identify patterns and form connections that underlie various chemical phenomena;

• prepare the learners to contribute to frontier research areas related to climate change, environmental issues, materials science, biology and medicine etc.:
• inculcate problem solving skills in the learners and integrate life skills and values in the context of chemistry; and

apprise learners of the interface of chemistry with other disciplines of science such as physics, biology, geology, engineering etc.

COURSE STRUCTURE CLASS XII THEORY

Total Marks: 70

Time: 3 Hours

1. No. Title Marks

Solutions 7

2 Electrochemistry 9

3 Chemical Kinetics 7

4 d -and f -Block Elements 7

5 Coordination Compounds 7

6 Haloalkanes and Haloarenes 6

7 Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers 6

8 Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids 8

9 Amines 6

10 Biomolecules 7

Total 70

Unit 1: Solutions

Types of Solutions, Expression of Concentration of Solutions, Solubility, Vapour Pressure of Liquid Solutions, Ideal and Non –Ideal Solutions, Colligative Properties and Determination of Molar Mass, Abnormal Molecular Masses.

Unit 2: Electrochemistry

Unit 3: Chemical Kinetics

Electrochemical Cells, Galvanic Cells, Nernst Equation, Conductance of Electrolytic solutions, Electrolytic Cells and Electrolysis, Batteries, Fuel Cells, Corrosion.

Rate of a Chemical reaction, factors influencing rate of reaction, integrated rate equations, Temperature Dependence of the rate of a reaction, Collision theory of Chemical Reactions

Unit 4: d and f Block Elements

Position in the Periodic Table, Electronic configuration of the d-Block Elements, General properties of the Transition Elements (d-Block), Some Important Compounds of Transition Elements, The Lanthanoids, The Actinoids, Some Applications of d- and f- Block Elements.

Unit 5: Coordination Compounds

Werner's Theory of Coordination Compound, Definition of Some important terms pertaining to Coordination Compounds, Nomenclature of Coordination Compounds. Isomerism in Coordination Compounds, Bonding in coordination compounds, Bonding in Metal Carbonyls, Importance and Applications of Coordination Compounds.

Unit 6: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Classification, Nomenclature, Nature of C-X bond, Methods of Preparation of Haloalkanes, Preparation of Haloarenes, Physical Properties, Chemical Reactions, Polyhalogen Compounds.

Unit 7: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers

Classification, Nomenclature, Structures of Functional Groups, Alcohols and Phenols, Some commercially Important Alcohols, Ethers.

Unit 8: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Nomenclature and Structure of Carbonyl Group, Preparation of Aldehydes and Ketones, Physical Properties and Chemical Reactions, Uses of Aldehydes and Ketones

Nomenclature Structure of Carboxyl Group, Methods of Preparation of Carboxylic Acids, Physical Properties and Chemical Reactions, Uses of Carboxylic Acids.

Unit 9: Amines

Structure of Amines, Classification, Nomenclature, Preparation of Amines, Physical Properties, Chemical Reactions, Methods of Preparation of Diazonium Salts, Physical Propeties, Chemical Reactions, Chemical Reactions Importance of Diazonium Salts in Synthesis of Aromatic Compounds.

Unit 10: Biomolecules

Carbohydrates. Proteins, Enzymes, Vitamins Nucleic Acids, Hormones

Note: The following topics are included in the syllabus but will be assessed only formatively to reinforce understanding without adding to summative assessments. This reduces academic stress while ensuring meaningful learning. Schools can integrate these with existing chapters as they align well. Relevant NCERT textual material is enclosed for reference.

1. Surface Chemistry - Adsorption - physisorption and chemisorption, factors affecting adsorption of gases on solids, colloidal state distinction between true solutions, colloids and suspension; lyophilic, lyophobic properties of colloids; coagulation, emulsion - types of emulsions.
2. General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements - Principles and methods of extraction - concentration, oxidation, reduction - electrolytic method and refining
3. Polymers – Polymerisation, Homopolymers and copolymer with few examples
4. Chemistry in Everyday life - Chemicals in medicines - analgesics, tranquilizers antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, antihistamines. Chemicals in food - preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, antioxidants.

PRACTICAL

Evaluation Scheme for Examination Marks

Volumetric Analysis 80

Salt Analysis 08

Content Based Experiment 06

Project Work 04

Class record and viva 04

Total 30

PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

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

A. Surface Chemistry

1. Preparation of one lyophilic and one lyophobic sol

Lyophilic sol - starch, egg albumin and gum

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

1. Dialysis of sol-prepared in (a) above.
2. Study of the role of emulsifying agents in stabilizing the emulsion of different oils.

B. Chemical Kinetics

1. Effect of concentration and temperature on the rate of reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric acid.
2. Study of reaction rates of any one of the following:

Reaction of lodide ion with Hydrogen Peroxide at room temperature using different concentration of lodide ions.

Reaction between Potassium Iodate, (KIO₃) and Sodium Sulphate:

(Na₂SO₃) using starch solution as indicator (clock reaction).

C. Thermochemistry

Any one of the following experiments

Enthalpy of dissolution of Copper Sulphate or Potassium Nitrate.

Enthalpy of neutralization of strong acid (HCI) and strong base (NaOH).

• Determination of enthalpy change during interaction (Hydrogen bond formation) between Acetone and Chloroform.