JEE Main 2026 — Complete Syllabus

An overview of the importance and scope of chemistry as a scientific discipline.

Historical development of the concept of the particulate nature of matter.

Fundamental laws governing chemical combinations between elements.

Dalton's atomic theory and its implications for the concept of elements, atoms, and molecules.

Understanding the mole concept and calculating molar masses.

Determining percentage composition and deriving empirical and molecular formulas from experimental data.

Calculations based on chemical reactions and stoichiometry.

Discovery of fundamental subatomic particles: electron, proton, and neutron.

Understanding atomic number, isotopes, and isobars.

Study of various atomic models (Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr) and their limitations.

Concept of shells, subshells, quantum numbers, and shapes of s, p, and d orbitals.

Rules for filling electrons in orbitals (Aufbau, Pauli, Hund) and electronic configurations.

Understanding the dual nature of matter and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Significance of classification of elements and historical development of the periodic table.

Modern periodic law and periodic trends in properties like atomic radii, ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, and electronegativity.

Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100.

Concept of valence electrons and the formation of ionic and covalent bonds.

Understanding bond parameters and drawing Lewis structures.

Polar character of covalent bonds and covalent character of ionic bonds.

Principles of Valence Bond Theory and the concept of resonance.

VSEPR theory for predicting molecular geometry and hybridization.

Qualitative idea of Molecular Orbital Theory for homonuclear diatomic molecules.

Concept and significance of hydrogen bonding.

Introduction to the three states of matter and intermolecular interactions.

Boyle's Law, Charle's Law, Gay Lussac's Law, and Avogadro's Law.

Ideal gas equation, kinetic energy, and molecular speeds of gases.

Deviations from ideal behavior, liquefaction of gases, and critical temperature.

Qualitative understanding of properties of the liquid state: vapor pressure, viscosity, and surface tension.

Fundamental concepts of thermodynamics: system, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions.

First law of thermodynamics, internal energy, enthalpy, heat capacity, and measurement of ΔU and ΔH.

Enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution, and dilution.

Hess's law of constant heat summation and its applications.

Introduction to entropy, Second and Third laws of thermodynamics, and Gibbs energy change for spontaneous processes.

Covers the fundamental nature of matter, its classification, and basic properties.

Explores Dalton's atomic theory and the fundamental laws governing chemical reactions.

Focuses on the mole concept, molar masses, percentage composition, and calculations involving chemical equations.

Concept of equilibrium in physical and chemical processes and the dynamic nature of equilibrium.

Law of mass action and the concept of equilibrium constant.

Factors affecting equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle.

Ionization of acids and bases, pH, buffer solutions, and Henderson equation.

Solubility product and the common ion effect with illustrative examples.

Covers the nature of light as electromagnetic radiation and the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.

Explains the Bohr model for the hydrogen atom and discusses its limitations.

Details the quantum mechanical model of the atom, including atomic orbitals and their properties.

Explains the various quantum numbers and the rules governing electron configuration in orbitals.

Concept of oxidation and reduction, and redox reactions.

Determining oxidation numbers and balancing redox reactions.

Applications of redox reactions in various contexts.

Covers the formation and characteristics of ionic and covalent bonds, including electronegativity and Fajan's rule.

Explains the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory to predict molecular shapes.

Details the Valence Bond Theory, including the concept of hybridization and the formation of sigma and pi bonds.

Introduces the Molecular Orbital Theory, explaining bond order, bond length, and bond energy.

Covers metallic bonding and the important phenomenon of hydrogen bonding and its applications.

Position of hydrogen in the periodic table, its occurrence, and isotopes.

Preparation, physical and chemical properties, and uses of hydrogen.

Types of hydrides: ionic, covalent, and interstitial.

Physical and chemical properties of water and heavy water.

Preparation, reactions, uses, and structure of hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen as a potential fuel source.

Introduces basic thermodynamic concepts like system, surroundings, state functions, and entropy.

Explains the first law of thermodynamics, including concepts of work, heat, internal energy, enthalpy, and Hess's law.

Covers the second law of thermodynamics, criteria for spontaneity, and the relationship between Gibbs energy and equilibrium constant.

General introduction to Group 1 (Alkali metals) and Group 2 (Alkaline earth metals).

Electronic configuration, occurrence, anomalous properties of the first element, diagonal relationship, and trends in properties.

Trends in chemical reactivity with oxygen, water, hydrogen, and halogens.

Preparation and properties of important compounds of Group 1: Sodium carbonate, chloride, hydroxide, and hydrogencarbonate.

Important compounds of Group 2: CaO, CaCO3, and industrial uses of lime and limestone.

Biological importance of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

Discusses various ways to express solution concentration and introduces Raoult's Law for ideal and non-ideal solutions.

Explains colligative properties and the significance of the van't Hoff factor in determining molecular masses.

Covers the concepts of physical and chemical equilibrium, equilibrium constants, and Le Chatelier's principle.

Focuses on ionic equilibrium, including concepts of acids and bases, pH, common ion effect, and buffer solutions.

Details the solubility product concept and the preparation and properties of buffer solutions.

General introduction to the p-block elements.

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, and anomalous properties of the first element of Group 13.

Physical and chemical properties of Boron; important compounds like borax, boric acid, boron hydrides. Uses of Aluminium and its reactions.

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, variation of properties, oxidation states, trends in chemical reactivity, and anomalous behaviour of the first element of Group 14.

Carbon's catenation, allotropic forms, physical and chemical properties; important compounds like oxides.

Important compounds of silicon and their uses: silicon tetrachloride, silicones, silicates, and zeolites.

Covers the electronic concepts of oxidation and reduction, oxidation numbers, and balancing redox reactions.

Explains the principles of electrolytic and metallic conduction, including conductance and Kohlrausch's law.

Details electrochemical cells (electrolytic and galvanic), electrode potentials, and the Nernst equation.

Covers the rate of chemical reactions and factors influencing it, including reaction order and molecularity.

Explains rate laws, rate constants, and the integrated forms of zero and first-order reactions.

Discusses the effect of temperature on reaction rates, Arrhenius theory, activation energy, and collision theory.

General introduction to organic chemistry, methods of purification, and qualitative/quantitative analysis.

Classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds.

Electronic displacements in covalent bonds: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance, and hyperconjugation.

Homolytic and heterolytic fission of covalent bonds, free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles, and nucleophiles.

Classification and types of organic reactions.

Covers the modern periodic law, the structure of the periodic table, and the classification of elements into s, p, d, and f blocks.

Explains periodic trends in atomic and ionic radii, ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, and chemical reactivity.

Provides a general introduction to p-block elements (Groups 13-18) and discusses trends in their properties.

Covers the general introduction, electronic configuration, properties, and characteristics of transition elements.

Details the preparation, properties, and uses of potassium dichromate and potassium permanganate.

Discusses the electronic configuration, oxidation states, and properties of Lanthanoids and Actinoids, including lanthanoid contraction.

Classification of hydrocarbons.

Nomenclature, isomerism, conformations (ethane only), physical properties, and chemical reactions of alkanes.

Nomenclature, structure, geometrical isomerism, preparation, chemical reactions (including electrophilic addition mechanism) of alkenes.

Nomenclature, structure, preparation, chemical reactions (including acidic character and addition reactions) of alkynes.

Introduction, nomenclature, resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties (electrophilic substitution mechanism), and directive influence of functional groups in benzene.

Carcinogenicity and toxicity associated with aromatic hydrocarbons.

Introduces coordination compounds, ligands, coordination number, and Werner's theory.

Covers IUPAC nomenclature, isomerism, and basic concepts of Valence Bond Theory and Crystal Field Theory in coordination compounds.

Highlights the importance and applications of coordination compounds in various fields.

Explains various techniques for the purification of organic compounds like crystallization, distillation, and chromatography.

Covers the principles of qualitative and quantitative analysis for detecting elements and determining empirical and molecular formulas.

Introduction to environmental pollution: air, water, and soil pollution.

Chemical reactions in the atmosphere, major atmospheric pollutants, smog, acid rain, ozone depletion, and the greenhouse effect.

Pollution due to industrial wastes, green chemistry as an alternative, and strategies for pollution control.

Discusses the tetravalency of carbon, hybridization, classification based on functional groups, and homologous series.

Explains structural and stereoisomerism and the IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds.

Covers covalent bond fission, stability of intermediates, electrophiles, nucleophiles, and electronic effects like inductive and resonance.

Introduces common types of organic reactions: substitution, addition, elimination, and rearrangement.

Classification of solids based on binding forces (molecular, ionic, covalent, metallic) and distinction between amorphous and crystalline solids.

Unit cells in two and three dimensional lattices.

Packing in solids, packing efficiency, voids, and coordination number.

Calculation of the number of atoms per unit cell and the density of a unit cell.

Types of point defects in crystalline solids.

Electrical and magnetic properties of solids, band theory of metals, conductors, semiconductors, and insulators.

Concept of n-type and p-type semiconductors.

Details the preparation, properties, reactions, and conformations of alkanes, including halogenation mechanisms.

Covers the preparation, properties, and reactions of alkenes, including electrophilic addition and polymerization.

Details the preparation, properties, and reactions of alkynes, including their acidic character.

Focuses on aromatic hydrocarbons, the structure and aromaticity of benzene, and electrophilic substitution reactions.

Covers the preparation, properties, reactions, and mechanisms of substitution reactions for organic compounds containing halogens.

Discusses the uses and environmental effects of important halogenated compounds like chloroform, iodoform, freons, and DDT.

Types of solutions and various expressions for concentration of solutions.

Solubility of gases in liquids and the concept of solid solutions.

Colligative properties: relative lowering of vapour pressure, elevation of boiling point, depression of freezing point, and osmotic pressure.

Determination of molecular masses using colligative properties and the Vant Hoff factor.

Understanding abnormal molecular masses and the Vant Hoff factor.

Covers the preparation, properties, reactions, and uses of alcohols, phenols, and ethers, including identification of alcohol types.

Details the structure, reactions (nucleophilic addition, oxidation, reduction, condensation), and tests for aldehydes and ketones.

Discusses the preparation, properties, reactions, and acidic strength of carboxylic acids.

Covers the nomenclature, classification, preparation, properties, reactions, and identification of amines.

Explains the importance and synthetic applications of diazonium salts in organic chemistry.

Covers the classification of carbohydrates, including monosaccharides and disaccharides like glucose and sucrose.

Discusses the basic idea of amino acids, peptide bonds, protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary), denaturation, and enzymes.

Covers the classification and functions of vitamins, and the chemical constitution and biological functions of DNA and RNA.

Provides a general introduction to hormones and their roles in the body.

Conductance of electrolytic solutions, specific and molar conductivity, variation with concentration, and Kohlrausch's Law.

Electrolysis and Faraday's laws of electrolysis (elementary idea).

Electrolytic cells and Galvanic cells, including the dry cell and lead accumulator.

Standard electrode potential, Nernst equation and its application to chemical cells.

Relation between Gibbs energy change and EMF of a cell.

Introduction to fuel cells and the phenomenon of corrosion.

Covers the practical methods for detecting extra elements (N, S, halogens) and functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino) in organic compounds.

Details the chemistry involved in the preparation of selected inorganic compounds (Mohr's salt, potash alum) and organic compounds (acetanilide, etc.).

Explains the principles of titrimetric exercises, including acid-base and redox titrations using indicators.

Covers the chemical principles involved in the qualitative analysis of common cations and anions in salts.

Explains the chemical principles behind experiments like enthalpy of solution, neutralization, sol preparation, and kinetic studies.

Rate of a reaction (average and instantaneous) and factors affecting it: concentration, temperature, and catalyst.

Order and molecularity of a reaction, rate law, and specific rate constant.

Integrated rate equations and half-life for zero and first order reactions.

Elementary idea of collision theory and Arrhenius equation.

Adsorption: physisorption and chemisorption, and factors affecting adsorption.

Catalysis: homogenous and heterogeneous catalysis, activity and selectivity, and enzyme catalysis.

Colloidal state: distinction between true solutions, colloids, and suspensions; lyophilic and lyophobic colloids.

Properties of colloids: Tyndall effect, Brownian movement, electrophoresis, and coagulation.

Types of emulsions.

Principles and methods of extraction: concentration, oxidation, reduction, electrolytic method, and refining.

Occurrence and principles of extraction of Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, and Iron.

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, oxidation states, trends in physical and chemical properties of Group 15 elements.

Preparation, properties, and uses of Ammonia and Nitric acid; structures of oxides of nitrogen.

Allotropic forms of Phosphorus; preparation and properties of phosphine, halides (PCl3, PCl5), and oxoacids of phosphorus (elementary idea).

General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties of Group 16 elements.

Preparation, properties, and uses of Dioxygen and Ozone; classification of oxides; preparation, properties, and uses of Sulphur dioxide; industrial process of manufacture, properties and uses of Sulphuric acid; oxoacids of sulphur (structures only).

General introduction, electronic configuration, oxidation states, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties of Group 17 elements.

Preparation, properties, and uses of Chlorine and Hydrochloric acid; interhalogen compounds; oxoacids of halogens (structures only).

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, trends in physical and chemical properties, and uses of Group 18 elements.

General introduction, electronic configuration, occurrence, and characteristics of transition metals.

General trends in properties of the first-row transition metals: metallic character, ionization enthalpy, oxidation states, ionic radii, colour, catalytic property, and magnetic properties.

Interstitial compounds and alloy formation in transition metals.

Preparation and properties of K2Cr2O7 and KMnO4.

Electronic configuration, oxidation states, chemical reactivity, and lanthanoid contraction and its consequences.

Electronic configuration, oxidation states, and comparison with lanthanoids for actinoids.

Introduction to coordination compounds, ligands, coordination number, colour, magnetic properties, and shapes.

IUPAC nomenclature of mononuclear coordination compounds and Werner's theory.

Bonding in coordination compounds: Valence Bond Theory (VBT) and Crystal Field Theory (CFT).

Isomerism (structural and stereo) and the importance of coordination compounds in various fields.

Nomenclature and the nature of the carbon-halogen (C-X) bond in haloalkanes.

Physical and chemical properties of haloalkanes, including the mechanism of substitution reactions.

Optical rotation in haloalkanes.

Nature of the C-X bond and substitution reactions in haloarenes (directive influence of halogen for monosubstituted compounds only).

Uses and environmental effects of dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, iodoform, freons, and DDT.

Nomenclature and methods of preparation of alcohols.

Physical and chemical properties of primary alcohols, identification of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, mechanism of dehydration, and uses with special reference to methanol and ethanol.

Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, acidic nature, and electrophilic substitution reactions of phenols.

Nomenclature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, and uses of ethers.

Nomenclature, nature of carbonyl group, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties, and mechanism of nucleophilic addition of aldehydes and ketones.

Reactivity of alpha hydrogen in aldehydes.

Nomenclature, acidic nature, methods of preparation, physical and chemical properties of carboxylic acids.

Uses of aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids.

Nomenclature, classification, structure, and methods of preparation of amines.

Physical and chemical properties of amines, and identification of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines.

Mention of cyanides and isocyanides at relevant places.

Preparation, chemical reactions, and importance of diazonium salts in synthetic organic chemistry.

Classification of carbohydrates (aldoses and ketoses), monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), and D-L configuration.

Oligosaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose) and polysaccharides (starch, cellulose, glycogen) and their importance.

Elementary idea of alpha-amino acids, peptide bond, polypeptides, proteins, primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures (qualitative idea only), and denaturation of proteins.

Enzymes; elementary idea of hormones (excluding structure); classification and functions of vitamins.

Introduction to nucleic acids: DNA and RNA.

Classification of polymers (natural and synthetic), methods of polymerization (addition and condensation), and copolymerization.

Some important polymers: natural and synthetic like polythene, nylon, polyesters, bakelite, and rubber.

Distinction between biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers.

Chemicals in medicines: analgesics, tranquilizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antifertility drugs, antibiotics, antacids, and antihistamines.

Chemicals in food: preservatives, artificial sweetening agents, and elementary idea of antioxidants.

Soaps and detergents, and their cleansing action.