Paper 1 of Chemistry has two
major branches: Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry. These two branches
are simple as well as scoring. The syllabus does not clearly define Section A
and Section B in Paper 1. However, in the main examination question paper
Section A invariably contains three questions including compulsory from Physical
Chemistry. There is usually one question from Inorganic Chemistry.
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The first two topics, Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding, are
conceptual and should be prepared from standard sources. Even though these
portions can give you direct questions as well, their importance will be felt in
many other sections of the course.
In Solid State Chemistry, you need to prepare separately for numerical
and theoretical problems. Gaseous State is a newly added section in Paper
1 and the best thing about this section is that it has a simple mathematical
base. Prepare it adequately from a good book and it is bound to be rewarding.
In Thermodynamics, be careful to maintain an orientation of Chemistry.
There is a common tendency among engineers to treat the questions too
mathematically. But in Chemistry, you have to treat heat change along with
chemical change. For a good score, your derivations must be standard, i.e. as
covered in books like S Glasstone's. You can be somewhat selective in
Thermodynamics section, based on past trends. Statistical Thermodynamics
is a newly-added part, and it is quite scoring. The section on Phase
Equilibria needs good writing practice besides command over numerical
problems. The emphasis in electrochemistry should be on numerical
problems, as they are relatively easy and make the paper scoring.
Chemical Kinetics and Photochemistry are, once again, predominantly
numerical-based areas. So practice will be the key to handle these sections
well. Photochemistry is especially important; it has been giving numerical
problems of at least 30 marks every year.
Coordination chemistry is a large topic, covering nearly two full-length
questions. Students are advised to cover this section thoroughly. The topic of
Bio-Inorganic Chemistry requires some good material collection. Bob
Buchanan's book on Plant Molecular Biology and Biochemistry will be a useful
source.
Rest of the topics in Paper 1 should be covered selectively, provided you have
covered the preceding parts well.
Paper 2
Paper 2 comprises completely of
Organic Chemistry. In the new scheme of the syllabus, it's a highly
scoring paper due to several factors: mathematical orientation, straight factual
queries, objective nature of most of the question, no dearth of quality material
and emphasis on reaction mechanisms.
The student, while preparing for Paper 2, is required to keep the following
things in mind:
Your approach has to be
simple, standard and to the point;
you require to practice the
numerical problems rigorously and you must have a clear knowledge of
reaction mechanisms, as the questions are increasingly being asked straight
and factual.
In Pericyclic Reaction
section, a greater emphasis has to be on diagrams rather than on theoretical
explanation and practice name reactions thoroughly from standard sources.
The orientation of orbitals
and molecular orbital diagrams are necessary.
In re-agent section also,
your approach has to be completely factual.