Chemical Science

CSIR-UGC NET – Chemical Sciences (Code: 701)
Academic Session: December 2025

COURSE OVERVIEW

Subject Name: Chemical Sciences
Subject Code: 701
Conducting Bodies: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) &
University Grants Commission (UGC)
Testing Agency: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Type: Joint CSIR-UGC NET
Total Marks: 200
Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 180 Minutes (3 Hours)
Fellowship Type: JRF / Assistant Professor / Ph.D. Admission

EXAMINATION PATTERN – CHEMICAL SCIENCES
Part A: General Aptitude
• Total Questions: 20
• Questions to Attempt: 15
• Marks per Correct Answer: 2
• Negative Marking per Incorrect Answer: 0.5
Part B: Subject-related Conventional MCQs
• Total Questions: 50
• Questions to Attempt: 35
• Marks per Correct Answer: 2
• Negative Marking per Incorrect Answer: 0.5
Part C: Higher Value Questions
• Total Questions: 80
• Questions to Attempt: 25
• Marks per Correct Answer: 4
• Negative Marking per Incorrect Answer: 1

LIST OF UNITS (Verbatim)
Unit I: Inorganic Chemistry
Unit II: Physical Chemistry
Unit III: Organic Chemistry
Unit IV: Interdisciplinary topics

UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS EXTRACTION (STRICT TOPIC-WISE ORDER)

Unit I: Inorganic Chemistry

• Topic 1: Chemical periodicity

• Topic 2: Structure and bonding in homo- and heteronuclear molecules, including shapes of molecules (VSEPR Theory).
○ Shapes of molecules (VSEPR Theory)

• Topic 3: Concepts of acids and bases, Hard-Soft acid base concept, Non-aqueous solvents.
○ Concepts of acids and bases
○ Hard-Soft acid base concept
○ Non-aqueous solvents

• Topic 4: Main group elements and their compounds: Allotropy, synthesis, structure and bonding, industrial importance of the compounds.
○ Allotropy
○ Synthesis
○ Structure and bonding
○ Industrial importance of the compounds

• Topic 5: Transition elements and coordination compounds: structure, bonding theories, spectral and magnetic properties, reaction mechanisms.
○ Structure
○ Bonding theories
○ Spectral and magnetic properties
○ Reaction mechanisms

• Topic 6: Inner transition elements: spectral and magnetic properties, redox chemistry, analytical applications.
○ Spectral and magnetic properties
○ Redox chemistry
○ Analytical applications

• Topic 7: Organometallic compounds: synthesis, bonding and structure, and reactivity. Organometallics in homogeneous catalysis.
○ Synthesis
○ Bonding and structure
○ Reactivity
○ Organometallics in homogeneous catalysis

• Topic 8: Cages and metal clusters.

• Topic 9: Analytical chemistry- separation, spectroscopic, electro- and thermoanalytical methods.
○ Separation methods
○ Spectroscopic methods
○ Electro-analytical methods
○ Thermoanalytical methods

• Topic 10: Bioinorganic chemistry: photosystems, porphyrins, metalloenzymes, oxygen transport, electron- transfer reactions; nitrogen fixation, metal complexes in medicine.
○ Photosystems
○ Porphyrins
○ Metalloenzymes
○ Oxygen transport
○ Electron-transfer reactions
○ Nitrogen fixation
○ Metal complexes in medicine

• Topic 11: Characterisation of inorganic compounds by IR, Raman, NMR, EPR, Mössbauer, UV-vis, NQR, MS, electron spectroscopy and microscopic techniques.
○ IR
○ Raman
○ NMR
○ EPR
○ Mössbauer
○ UV-vis
○ NQR
○ MS
○ Electron spectroscopy
○ Microscopic techniques

• Topic 12: Nuclear chemistry: nuclear reactions, fission and fusion, radio-analytical techniques and activation analysis.
○ Nuclear reactions
○ Fission and fusion
○ Radio-analytical techniques
○ Activation analysis

Unit II: Physical Chemistry:

• Topic 1: Basic principles of quantum mechanics: Postulates; operator algebra; exactly-solvable systems: particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom, including shapes of atomic orbitals; orbital and spin angular momenta; tunneling.
○ Postulates
○ Operator algebra
○ Exactly-solvable systems: particle-in-a-box, harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom
○ Shapes of atomic orbitals
○ Orbital and spin angular momenta
○ Tunneling

• Topic 2: Approximate methods of quantum mechanics: Variational principle; perturbation theory up to second order in energy; applications.
○ Variational principle
○ Perturbation theory up to second order in energy
○ Applications

• Topic 3: Atomic structure and spectroscopy; term symbols; many-electron systems and antisymmetry principle.
○ Atomic structure and spectroscopy
○ Term symbols
○ Many-electron systems and antisymmetry principle

• Topic 4: Chemical bonding in diatomics; elementary concepts of MO and VB theories; Huckel theory for conjugated $\pi$π-electron systems.
○ Chemical bonding in diatomics
○ Elementary concepts of MO and VB theories
○ Huckel theory for conjugated $\pi$π-electron systems

• Topic 5: Chemical applications of group theory; symmetry elements; point groups; character tables; selection rules.
○ Symmetry elements
○ Point groups
○ Character tables
○ Selection rules

• Topic 6: Molecular spectroscopy: Rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic spectra; IR and Raman activities – selection rules; basic principles of magnetic resonance.
○ Rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules
○ Electronic spectra
○ IR and Raman activities – selection rules
○ Basic principles of magnetic resonance

• Topic 7: Chemical thermodynamics: Laws, state and path functions and their applications; thermodynamic description of various types of processes; Maxwell’s relations; spontaneity and equilibria; temperature and pressure dependence of thermodynamic quantities; Le Chatelier principle; elementary description of phase transitions; phase equilibria and phase rule; thermodynamics of ideal and non-ideal gases, and solutions.
○ Laws, state and path functions and their applications
○ Thermodynamic description of various types of processes
○ Maxwell’s relations
○ Spontaneity and equilibria
○ Temperature and pressure dependence of thermodynamic quantities
○ Le Chatelier principle
○ Elementary description of phase transitions
○ Phase equilibria and phase rule
○ Thermodynamics of ideal and non-ideal gases, and solutions

• Topic 8: Statistical thermodynamics: Boltzmann distribution; kinetic theory of gases; partition functions and their relation to thermodynamic quantities – calculations for model systems.
○ Boltzmann distribution
○ Kinetic theory of gases
○ Partition functions and their relation to thermodynamic quantities
○ Calculations for model systems

• Topic 9: Electrochemistry: Nernst equation, redox systems, electrochemical cells; Debye-Huckel theory; electrolytic conductance – Kohlrausch’s law and its applications; ionic equilibria; conductometric and potentiometric titrations.
○ Nernst equation
○ Redox systems
○ Electrochemical cells
○ Debye-Huckel theory
○ Electrolytic conductance – Kohlrausch’s law and its applications
○ Ionic equilibria
○ Conductometric and potentiometric titrations

• Topic 10: Chemical kinetics: Empirical rate laws and temperature dependence; complex reactions; steady state approximation; determination of reaction mechanisms; collision and transition state theories of rate constants; unimolecular reactions; enzyme kinetics; salt effects; homogeneous catalysis; photochemical reactions.
○ Empirical rate laws and temperature dependence
○ Complex reactions
○ Steady state approximation
○ Determination of reaction mechanisms
○ Collision and transition state theories of rate constants
○ Unimolecular reactions
○ Enzyme kinetics
○ Salt effects
○ Homogeneous catalysis
○ Photochemical reactions

• Topic 11: Colloids and surfaces: Stability and properties of colloids; isotherms and surface area; heterogeneous catalysis.
○ Stability and properties of colloids
○ Isotherms and surface area
○ Heterogeneous catalysis

• Topic 12: Solid state: Crystal structures; Bragg’s law and applications; band structure of solids.
○ Crystal structures
○ Bragg’s law and applications
○ Band structure of solids

• Topic 13: Polymer chemistry: Molar masses; kinetics of polymerization.
○ Molar masses
○ Kinetics of polymerization

• Topic 14: Data analysis: Mean and standard deviation; absolute and relative errors; linear regression; covariance and correlation coefficient.
○ Mean and standard deviation
○ Absolute and relative errors
○ Linear regression
○ Covariance and correlation coefficient

Unit III: Organic Chemistry

• Topic 1: IUPAC nomenclature of organic molecules including regio- and stereoisomers.
○ Regioisomers
○ Stereoisomers

• Topic 2: Principles of stereochemistry: Configurational and conformational isomerism in acyclic and cyclic compounds; stereogenicity, stereoselectivity, enantioselectivity, diastereoselectivity and asymmetric induction.
○ Configurational and conformational isomerism in acyclic and cyclic compounds
○ Stereogenicity
○ Stereoselectivity
○ Enantioselectivity
○ Diastereoselectivity
○ Asymmetric induction

• Topic 3: Aromaticity: Benzenoid and non-benzenoid compounds – generation and reactions.
○ Benzenoid compounds – generation and reactions
○ Non-benzenoid compounds – generation and reactions

• Topic 4: Organic reactive intermediates: Generation, stability and reactivity of carbocations, carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, benzymes and nitrenes.
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of carbocations
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of carbanions
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of free radicals
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of carbenes
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of benzymes
○ Generation, stability and reactivity of nitrenes

• Topic 5: Organic reaction mechanisms involving addition, elimination and substitution reactions with electrophilic, nucleophilic or radical species. Determination of reaction pathways.
○ Addition reactions with electrophilic, nucleophilic or radical species
○ Elimination reactions with electrophilic, nucleophilic or radical species
○ Substitution reactions with electrophilic, nucleophilic or radical species
○ Determination of reaction pathways

• Topic 6: Common named reactions and rearrangements – applications in organic synthesis.
○ Applications in organic synthesis

• Topic 7: Organic transformations and reagents: Functional group interconversion including oxidations and reductions; common catalysts and reagents (organic, inorganic, organometallic and enzymatic). Chemo, regio and stereoselective transformations.
○ Functional group interconversion including oxidations and reductions
○ Common catalysts and reagents (organic, inorganic, organometallic and enzymatic)
○ Chemo, regio and stereoselective transformations

• Topic 8: Concepts in organic synthesis: Retrosynthesis, disconnection, synthons, linear and convergent synthesis, unpooling of reactivity and protecting groups.
○ Retrosynthesis
○ Disconnection
○ Synthons
○ Linear and convergent synthesis
○ Unpooling of reactivity
○ Protecting groups

• Topic 9: Asymmetric synthesis: Chiral auxiliaries, methods of asymmetric induction – substrate, reagent and catalyst controlled reactions; determination of enantiomeric and diastereomeric excess; enantio-discrimination. Resolution – optical and kinetic.
○ Chiral auxiliaries
○ Methods of asymmetric induction – substrate, reagent and catalyst controlled reactions
○ Determination of enantiomeric and diastereomeric excess
○ Enantio-discrimination
○ Resolution – optical and kinetic

• Topic 10: Pericyclic reactions – electrocyclisation, cycloaddition, sigmatropic rearrangements and other related concerted reactions. Principles and applications of photochemical reactions in organic chemistry.
○ Electrocyclisation
○ Cycloaddition
○ Sigmatropic rearrangements
○ Other related concerted reactions
○ Principles and applications of photochemical reactions in organic chemistry

• Topic 11: Synthesis and reactivity of common heterocyclic compounds containing one or two heteroatoms (O, N, S).
○ Containing one heteroatom (O, N, S)
○ Containing two heteroatoms (O, N, S)

• Topic 12: Chemistry of natural products: Carbohydrates, proteins and peptides, fatty acids, nucleic acids, terpenes, steroids and alkaloids. Biogenesis of terpenoids and alkaloids.
○ Carbohydrates
○ Proteins and peptides
○ Fatty acids
○ Nucleic acids
○ Terpenes
○ Steroids
○ Alkaloids
○ Biogenesis of terpenoids and alkaloids

• Topic 13: Structure determination of organic compounds by IR, UV-Vis, ${}^{1}H$1H & ${}^{13}C$13C NMR and Mass spectroscopic techniques.
○ IR
○ UV-Vis
○ ${}^{1}H$1H & ${}^{13}C$13C NMR
○ Mass spectroscopic techniques

Unit IV: Interdisciplinary topics

• Topic 1: Chemistry in nanoscience and technology.

• Topic 2: Catalysis and green chemistry.

• Topic 3: Medicinal chemistry.

• Topic 4: Supramolecular chemistry.

• Topic 5: Environmental chemistry.

ANNEXURES / NOTES / CLARIFICATIONS
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QUALIFYING CRITERIA (If Provided)
General / OBC / EWS: 33%
SC / ST / PwD: 25%

SYLLABUS SUMMARY (Auto-Generated)
Total Units: 4
Total Topics: 44
Subject: Chemical Sciences
Subject Code: 701
Exam Category: CSIR-UGC NET
Academic Session: December 2025
“As per latest official syllabus (December 2025)”