Building on the organic chemistry overview, this provides a more detailed chapter-wise breakdown for Physical Chemistry in CBSE Class 12 (Units 1-4 from NCERT). The analysis is derived from trends in previous year question papers (PYQs) from 2020-2025, including the 2025 paper which was rated moderate overall, with physical sections emphasizing numericals and graphs. Physical Chemistry typically carries 20-25 marks (28-35% of the paper), focusing on calculations, derivations, and conceptual applications. Questions include MCQs (1 mark), numericals (2-3 marks), graphs (3 marks), and case-based (4 marks).
Repetition is high for numerical problems (e.g., in electrochemistry and kinetics, appearing in 5-6/6 years). Difficulty in 2025 was moderate for physical (per student feedback), with emphasis on application-based questions. Trends post-2022 include more assertion-reason and graph interpretation. In 2025, physical was ~25 marks, direct from NCERT, with predictable topics like rate laws and colligative properties.
Types of solutions, concentration units (molality, molarity, mole fraction), Raoult's law, ideal/non-ideal solutions, colligative properties (vapour pressure lowering, boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, osmotic pressure), van't Hoff factor, abnormal molar masses, Henry's law.
High; colligative numericals and van't Hoff repeat annually. In 2025, 7 marks, with moderate numericals.
None; focus on laws (Raoult's, Henry's).
Common (80% papers); e.g., "Why does molarity change with temperature?" (volume dependence); "Explain abnormal colligative properties in electrolytes" (dissociation). Repetition: 5/6 years.
Rare; derivations of colligative formulas (e.g., ΔTb = Kb m i) in 3/6 years.
Redox reactions, conductance (specific, molar), Kohlrausch's law, electrochemical cells (galvanic, electrolytic), Nernst equation, EMF, Faraday's laws, batteries, corrosion, fuel cells.
Highest; Nernst equation and Faraday's laws in every paper. In 2025, 8 marks, numerical-heavy.
None; electrochemical series applications.
Frequent; e.g., "Why is conductivity lower in weak electrolytes?" (partial dissociation); "Explain corrosion prevention" (cathodic protection). 6/6 years.
Electrode reactions (e.g., Daniel cell); Nernst derivation. Repeated annually, e.g., 2025 Nernst.
Rate of reaction, rate laws, order/molecularity, integrated rate equations, half-life, Arrhenius equation, activation energy, collision theory, catalysis.
High; integrated equations and graphs repeat often. In 2025, 7 marks, graph-focused.
None; focus on equations (Arrhenius).
Common; e.g., "Why is molecularity not fractional?" (elementary steps); "Effect of catalyst on activation energy" (lowers Ea). 5/6 years.
Derivation of integrated rate laws (zero/first/second order). Arrow not needed, but steps; repeated 5/6 years, e.g., 2023-2025 first-order.
Adsorption (physisorption, chemisorption), isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir), catalysis (homogeneous/heterogeneous), colloids (types, preparation, properties like Tyndall, electrophoresis), emulsions, micelles.
Medium; adsorption and colloids repeat. In 2025, 5 marks, conceptual.
None; isotherms as models.
High; e.g., "Why chemisorption increases with temperature initially?" (activation); "Explain coagulation" (charge neutralization). 4/6 years.
Adsorption mechanisms (multilayer in Freundlich); rare, 3/6 years.
Emphasize numericals (70% of physical marks) from NCERT examples. High-repetition in electrochemistry/kinetics can fetch 12+ marks. Practice graphs and derivations. PYQs 2020-2025 show easier numericals in 2025 vs twisted in 2023. Feedback: NCERT + PYQs ensure 90%+ in physical.
This section covers Inorganic Chemistry (Units 5-8 from NCERT). Inorganic typically carries 18-20 marks (25-28% of the paper), with focus on properties, reactions, and reasoning. Questions: MCQs (1 mark), short answers (2-3 marks), and long (5 marks) on extractions or trends.
Repetition high for p-block and coordination (5/6 years). 2025 inorganic was moderate, NCERT-based, ~20 marks, with trends like d-block properties.
Minerals, ores, concentration (froth flotation, magnetic separation), extraction (roasting, calcination, smelting), thermodynamic principles (Ellingham diagram), refining (distillation, electrolysis).
Medium; Ellingham and froth flotation repeat. In 2025, 4 marks.
Hall-Heroult, Bayer's process.
Common; e.g., "Why is carbon used in iron extraction?" (reducing agent); "Explain self-reduction in copper" (Cu2S + O2). 4/6 years.
Extraction flows (e.g., Fe from hematite); steps with equations, repeated 4/6 years.
Group 15-18 trends, nitrogen (Haber process), phosphorus (allotropes, PCl3/5), oxygen (ozone, allotropes), sulphur (SO2, H2SO4), halogens (preparation, properties, interhalogen), noble gases (compounds like XeF2).
High; Haber and Contact process annual. In 2025, 8 marks.
Haber-Bosch, Contact process, Ostwald's.
Frequent; e.g., "Why nitrogen is inert?" (triple bond); "Acidity order of oxyacids" (electronegativity). 5/6 years.
Reaction mechanisms (e.g., NO in Ostwald); equations with conditions, repeated 5/6 years.
General properties (variable oxidation, color, magnetism), transition metals (KMnO4, K2Cr2O7 preparations/reactions), lanthanoids/actinoids (contraction, properties).
High; KMnO4 reactions repeat. In 2025, 6 marks.
Preparation of KMnO4, oxidation reactions.
Common; e.g., "Why transition metals form complexes?" (d-orbitals); "Lanthanoid contraction effect" (shielding). 5/6 years.
Redox reactions (e.g., Cr2O7^2- in acid); balanced equations, repeated 5/6 years.
Werner's theory, nomenclature, isomerism (geometrical, optical, linkage), bonding (VBT, CFT), stability, applications.
Highest; isomerism in every paper. In 2025, 7 marks.
None; theories (Werner, VBT).
High; e.g., "Why [Co(NH3)6]^3+ is stable?" (chelate effect); "Splitting in octahedral vs tetrahedral" (CFT). 6/6 years.
Crystal field splitting diagrams; repeated annually.
Focus on reactions and trends from NCERT tables. High-repetition in p-block and coordination for 12+ marks. Practice diagrams and equations. PYQs show direct questions in 2025. Feedback: Memorize properties for full marks in inorganic.