Strategy: Chemistry

IAS Prelims & Mains GS and Optional Lectures, Model Answers, and Notes at doorsteptutor.com.

Paper I

Paper I of Chemistry has 2 major branches: Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry. These branches are considered simple as well as scoring. However, The syllabus does not define Section A and Section B in Paper 1. In the core examination question paper Section A invariably contains three questions including mendatory from Physical Chemistry.

  • Generally there is only one question appears from Inorganic Chemistry.
  • The first two topics namely, Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding are conceptual in nature and should be prepared from standard study material. Even though these portions can give you direct questions as well, their importance will be judged in many other sections of the course.
  • Chemical Kinetics and Photochemistry are, once again, predominantly numerical based areas. So practice will be very vital to deal with these sections. Photochemistry is especially crucial; it has been giving numerical problems of atleast 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 consider as a useful source.
  • In Solid State Chemistry, you need to prepare separately for numerical and theoretical problems. Gaseous State is a newly added section in Paper I and the best thing about this section is that it has a simple mathematical base. Prepare it well from a good book and it is bound to be rewarding.
  • In Thermodynamics, be careful to coretain an orientation of Chemistry. There is a tendency among nost of the engineers to solve 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. Rest of the topics in Paper I should be covered selectively, provided you have covered the preceding parts well.

Paper II

Paper II consists completely of Organic Chemistry. In the new scheme of the syllabus, it՚s a highly scoring paper due to various factors: Mathematical orientation, straight factual queries, objective nature of most of the question, no dearth of quality material and focus on reaction mechanisms.

  • In Pericyclic Reaction section, More focus is to be done on the diagrams and not on theoretical explanation and practice name reactions thoroughly from the standard sources.
  • The orientation of orbitals and molecular orbital diagrams are very essential. In re-agent section your approach must be completely factual.

While preparing for the Paper II, Students need to keep the things mentioned below in their minds:

  • Your approach must be simple, standard and upto the mark.
  • You need to solve more and more numerical problems rigorously and must have a clear knowledge of reaction mechanisms as the questions are increasingly being asked straight and factual.