Is chemistry in syllabus of UPSC?

Yes, Chemistry is one of the optional subjects in the UPSC syllabus for the mains examination.

Is chemistry difficult for UPSC?

The difficulty of Chemistry as an optional subject for UPSC varies from candidate to candidate. It can be challenging for those without a background in Chemistry, but with proper preparation and understanding of the concepts, it can be manageable.

Is chemistry is good option for UPSC?

Choosing Chemistry as an optional subject for UPSC can be a good option for candidates who have a strong interest and background in the subject.

Is chemistry a scoring optional for UPSC?

Whether Chemistry is a scoring optional for UPSC depends on individual preparation and performance. With thorough understanding, regular practice, and effective answer writing, candidates can score well in the Chemistry optional paper.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025, Download PDF for Optional Paper

Table of Contents

The UPSC Chemistry syllabus tests candidates’ knowledge of theoretical and applied chemistry. It consists of two papers:

Paper 1 covers Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, including atomic structure, thermodynamics, and coordination chemistry, while
Paper 2 focuses on Organic Chemistry, including reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and polymers.

Candidates selecting Chemistry as their optional subject should have a solid understanding of core concepts and their real-life applications. A clear understanding of the syllabus is the key to scoring well in the examination.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025

The UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025 is a part of the official UPSC Syllabus which also includes topics like reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, organic synthesis, spectroscopy, solid-state chemistry, polymers, biomolecules, and environmental chemistry. Candidates need a strong understanding of these topics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels to do well in the UPSC Chemistry 2025 exam.

UPSC Syllabus 2025
Category	Syllabus
Paper	Chemistry
Types of Paper	Conventional Papers (Descriptive Type)
Duration of Exam	3 hours Each Paper
Total Marks	1750
Negative Marking	No negative marking

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus for Mains Exam

Chemistry is a specialized subject in the UPSC exam, intended for candidates with a graduate-level background. The UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025 covers topics like atomic structure, states of matter, and different types of reactions. A solid understanding of these areas is important for success in the exam.

UPSC Chemistry Optional Syllabus

This section provides the UPSC Chemistry Optional Syllabus for 2025, outlining the important topics and concepts to be covered. Knowing the syllabus helps candidates plan their study schedule and manage time effectively. The Chemistry Optional consists of two papers, each worth 250 marks, contributing a total of 500 marks to the UPSC Mains exam, which includes nine subjective papers.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus for Paper 1

UPSC Chemistry Optional Select covers numerous topics for exam preparation. Following UPSC Chemistry Syllabus Paper 1 topics are explained below.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025 for Paper 1
Topic	Sub Topic
1. Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding	– Atomic structure, quantum theory, and electronic configurations. – Chemical bonding, ionic and covalent bonds, molecular orbital theory.
2. Periodic Table and Periodic Properties	– Periodic trends in properties of elements. – Classification of elements, periodicity in properties.
3. Structure and Bonding in Organic Compounds	– Concepts of hybridization, resonance, and electronic effects. – Organic reaction mechanisms and stereochemistry.
4. States of Matter	– Gaseous state, laws, and kinetic theory. – Liquids and solids, phase equilibria, and phase diagrams.
5. Chemical Thermodynamics	– Laws of thermodynamics, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy. – Thermochemistry, Hess’s law, and calorimetry.
6. Chemical Kinetics	– Rate of reactions, order, and molecularity. – Activation energy, catalysis, and enzyme kinetics.
7. Electrochemistry	– Redox reactions, electrochemical cells, and Nernst equation. – Conductance, Kohlrausch’s law, and corrosion.
8. Chemical Equilibrium	– Equilibrium constants, Le Chatelier’s principle. – Acid-base equilibria, pH, and buffers.
9. Surface Chemistry	– Adsorption, colloids, and catalysis.
10. Organic Chemistry	– Nomenclature and types of organic reactions. – Organic compounds and their functional groups.
11. Inorganic Chemistry	– Principles of inorganic chemistry. – Periodic trends, chemical reactions, and coordination compounds.
12. Bioinorganic Chemistry	– Metals in biological systems, metalloproteins, and metal-based drugs.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus for Paper 2

In the below table, candidates can check the UPSC Chemistry Syllabus for paper 2 preparation. It covers some of the important topics for the UPSC examination. The following topics of the Chemistry Syllabus are covered.

UPSC Chemistry Syllabus for Mains Paper 2
Topic	Sub Topic
Delocalized Covalent Bonding	General methods (both kinetic and non-kinetic) of study of mechanisms or organic reactions: isotopies, method cross-over experiment, intermediate trapping, stereochemistry; the energy of activation; thermodynamic control and kinetic control of reactions
Reactive intermediates	Generation, geometry, stability, and reactions of carbonium ions and carbanions, free radicals, carbenes, benzynes, and nitrenes.
Substitution reactions	SN1, SN2, and SNi, mechanisms; neighbouring group participation; electrophilic and nucleophilic reactions of aromatic compounds including heterocyclic compounds—pyrrole, furan, thiophene, and indole.
Elimination reactions	E1, E2, and E1cb mechanisms; orientation in E2 reactions—Saytzeff and Hoffmann; pyrolytic syn elimination—acetate pyrolysis, Chugaev, and Cope eliminations.
Addition reactions	Electrophilic addition to C=C and CC; nucleophilic addition to C=O, CN, conjugated olefins, and carbonyls
Reactions and Rearrangement	Pinacol-pinacolone, Hoffmann, Beckmann, Baeyer-Villiger, Favorskii, Fries, Claisen, Cope, Stevens, and Wagner—Meerwein rearrangements
Pericyclic reactions	Classification and examples; Woodward-Hoffmann rules—electrocyclic reactions, cycloaddition reactions [2+2 and 4+2], and sigmatropic shifts [1, 3; 3, 3 and 1, 5], FMO approach
Preparation and Properties of Polymers	Organic polymers polyethene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, Teflon, nylon, terylene, synthetic and natural rubber
Synthetic Uses of Reagent	OsO4, HlO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, NBS, B2H6, Na-Liquid NH3, LiAIH4, NaBH4, n-BuLi, MCPBA
Photochemistry	Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds, excited and ground states, singlet and triplet states, Norrish-Type I and Type II reactions
Spectroscopy	Principles and applications in structure elucidation (i) Rotational—Diatomic molecules; isotopic substitution and rotational constants. (ii) Vibrational—Diatomic molecules, linear triatomic molecules, specific frequencies of functional groups in polyatomic molecules. (iii) Electronic—Singlet and triplet states. n and transitions; application to conjugated double bonds and conjugated carbonyls Woodward-Fieser rules; Charge transfer spectra (iv) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR): Basic principle; chemical shift and spin-spin interaction and coupling constants. (v) Mass Spectrometry:—Parent peak, base peak, metastable peak, McLafferty rear.

Chemistry UPSC Syllabus PDF Download

To access the Chemistry syllabus for UPSC in a PDF format, candidates can use the below link to download the Chemistry UPSC Syllabus PDF.

Chemistry UPSC Syllabus PDF Download Link

How To Prepare For UPSC Chemistry Syllabus 2025?

To cover the UPSC Chemistry Syllabus, candidates should practice each topic using various resources, such as question papers, core concepts, and standard textbooks. The following points highlight other important aspects of the UPSC Chemistry optional subject.

Start by thoroughly understanding the UPSC Chemistry Syllabus and familiarize yourself with the major topics.
Give priority to physical chemistry and inorganic chemistry as they form a significant part of the syllabus.
Begin with a strong foundation by revisiting the basics of chemistry covered in class 11 and class 12 NCERT textbooks.
Utilize visual aids such as data charts, diagrams, and mnemonics to facilitate memorization and understanding of concepts.
Create mnemonics to remember the periodic table, which can be helpful during the examination.
Practice solving numerical problems in the inorganic section to develop proficiency in applying learned concepts.
Solve a wide variety of practice questions to gain a deeper understanding of how different concepts are applied in different contexts.
Regularly revise the topics to ensure retention and familiarity with the subject matter.

Books for Chemistry Optional 2024

These are the well-standard books for Chemistry. follow these to get the best score.

Books for Chemistry Optional
Principles of Organic Synthesis, 3rd Edition By Norman and Coxonhttps
Reaction Mechanism in Organic Chemistry By S.M. Mukhaerji
Spectroscopy of Organic Compounds By P. S. Kalsi
Principles of Physical Chemistry by B.R Puri ,Madan S.Pathania
Principles of Physical Chemistry by Puri, Sharma and Kalia
Advanced Physical Chemistry By Gurdeep Raj
A Textbook of Physical Chemistry – Vol. 4 By Kapoor K L
An Introduction To Electrochemistry By Samuel Glasstone
Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reaction And Synthesis (Part B)
Organic Chemistry 2nd Edition By Clayden, Nick Greeves, and S.Warren
March’s Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms and Structure 7ed
Introduction to Spectroscopy by Donald L. Pavia
Organic Chemistry By Stanley H. Pine
A guide to mechanism in organic chemistry by Peter Sykes
A textbook of physical chemistry by K.L. Kapoor
A textbook of organic chemistry by Bahl & B.S
Selected topics in inorganic chemistry by Malik
Principles of Physical Chemistry by Puri, Sharma & Pathway
Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J D Lee

Is Chemistry is a Good Optional Subject?

If you have a strong background in chemistry from your graduation and PG studies, you are well-prepared for the UPSC Chemistry optional, which covers up to the PG level. Review previous year UPSC Chemistry questions; if you are comfortable with them and can handle them with some preparation, Chemistry could be a good option for you. Many aspirants switch to humanities subjects like History, Sociology, or Public Administration, but if you’re confident in Chemistry, it’s a solid choice.