Rocking JEE- Inorganic Chemistry

This post is about inorganic chemistry, one of the least liked topic in JEE preparation. But finally, this is going to be the one subject which will fetch you marks most easily. Many people ignore inorganic chemistry and are at a loss. Inorganic chemistry questions can be solved with a tick and provide time for other questions. So, do this section well to Rock in JEE. You might find it boring, but that happens only when you are studying it for the first time. Once you study it well, you will answer questions with a tick, and that is clearly worth it. Mathematics and Physics are relatively tough. So score marks here and you can compensate for Maths and Physics.

There are two sections in inorganic chemistry: the understanding part which includes periodic table, chemical bonding, coordination compounds, etc. and the learning based part like s block, p block, d block, qualitative analysis, etc.

The understanding part is more important from JEE point of view as more questions are asked from it. You should be parallel with your teachers and study regularly. I'll be going topicwise.

1. Periodic Table- This is the first and very important chapter for JEE Inorganic Chemistry. You should be thorough with all the trends(radius, I.E, Electronegativity,etc.) when you go up and down. Try remembering the periodic table as time goes. Remember the exceptions of periodic trends well. And get the logic behind each.

2. Chemical Bonding- This is purely understanding based. Have a good grasp on bonding, VSEPR, and MOT. Hybridisation is important. Remember the structures(or I should say, have the art of drawing structures on your tips) and how to make them. Some very important and fundamental concepts like H Bonding and Dipole Moment are studied here. Get comfortable with them. Keep this topic crystal clear.

3. Coordination Chemistry- Very important and has a good weightage. Be absolutely clear with CFT and electronic configuration. Nomenclature, color, hybridisation,etc. Lots of concepts, learn them all relaly well. Learn all exceptions, and important complexes names and properties.

Memorization part- Well, I can't tell you what to learn and what not to, but I'll mention the name of chapters. At least do till NCERT. That is minimum requirement. I have mentioned a learning strategy below. follow that. The topics are s block, p block and d block. Learn everything- important compounds, properties, colors, electronic configurations(design tricks or use trends). Then comes Metallurgy and Qualitative Analysis. Just remember all tests, color changes, ores, extraction details, reactions, etc. As many as mentioned in the syllabus(see this). 

I followed the following strategy for effective learning :

I first mentally divided the chapter into 3 or 4 segments. Then I read around a page of each segment and tried to fit as much as possible into my mind. Then I recalled it without seeing and read it again. So page by page I covered a segment. Then I read and recalled and reread the segment again. Then same procedure was repeated for all segments. Then I read the whole chapter and then recalled and read it again. Now the entire chapter would be in my mind for a long time. This procedure was spread over a week or two and not one day effort. After learning you should also revise by reading chapters again by recalling as and when time permits.

Books-

• NCERT(must have)
• Arihant
• JD Lee
• Cengage

     

You can choose any one of Arihant and Cengage as you main book if you are preparing without coaching, and can refer to JD Lee as reference(for both coaching and non-Coaching students). I have mentioned only those parts of NCERT which have chapters from Inorganic portion. I personally used Resonance study material, JD Lee(foreign edition), and NCERT. And I strongly recommend going for NCERT+Coaching sheet if you feel that books are overloading you. Books mainly are for those who don't go to coaching/want some extra practice.

Feel free to comment any doubts you have. Follow the blog for more.

All the best!

Also check out- BEST Books for JEE, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry. Motivation, A complete JEE preparation guide, Organic Chemistry, Mechanics, Algebra,