ChemistryThe p-Block Elements· Class 12
Ostwald process
“It turns ammonia into the acid behind fertilisers and explosives.”
Nitric acid is made by catalytically oxidising ammonia.
Memory trick: NH₃ → HNO₃.
Fundamentals
1,200 must-knows for NEET & JEE
The core facts every aspirant should own — each a titled nugget with a real-world story, the concept in plain words, and a memory trick. Works even when the internet doesn't.
1,200 fundamentals
ChemistryHydrogen· Class 11
Hydrogen peroxide
“It fizzes on a cut as it releases oxygen.”
A pale blue liquid, a strong oxidiser used as a bleach and antiseptic.
H₂O₂
Memory trick: Oxidiser and bleach.
ChemistryHydrogen· Class 11
Hard vs soft water
“Hard water leaves scum and scales up kettles.”
Hard water contains Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ions that stop soap from lathering.
Memory trick: Ca/Mg ions = hardness.
ChemistryThe p-Block Elements· Class 12
Interhalogen compounds
“Mixing halogens makes fiercely reactive hybrids.”
Compounds between two different halogens (e.g. ICl), generally more reactive than the parent halogens.
Memory trick: Halogen + halogen.
ChemistryCoordination Compounds· Class 12
Crystal field splitting
“The exact split decides whether a gemstone glows red or green.”
Ligands split a metal's d-orbitals in energy, explaining complex colour and magnetism.
Memory trick: Ligands split the d-orbitals.
ChemistryCoordination Compounds· Class 12
Spectrochemical series
“Strong-field ligands can force electrons to pair up.”
Ligands ranked by how strongly they split d-orbitals.
Memory trick: Strong vs weak field ligands.
ChemistryCoordination Compounds· Class 12
Isomerism in complexes
“Cisplatin fights cancer, but its trans isomer doesn't — shape is everything.”
Coordination compounds show geometrical, optical and linkage isomerism.
Memory trick: Same formula, different arrangement.
ChemistryAldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids· Class 12
Grignard reagent
“A chemist's power tool for stitching carbon skeletons together.”
R–MgX reacts with carbonyls to build new carbon–carbon bonds.
Memory trick: Adds R to C=O.
ChemistryHydrocarbons· Class 11
Ozonolysis
“It's a molecular knife that shows exactly where the double bond sat.”
Ozone cleaves a C=C double bond, revealing where it was located.
Memory trick: Cuts at the C=C.
ChemistryAldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids· Class 12
Tollens' test
“A gleaming silver coating on the tube flags an aldehyde.”
Aldehydes reduce Tollens' reagent to deposit a silver mirror; ketones don't.
Memory trick: Silver mirror = aldehyde.
ChemistryAldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids· Class 12
Iodoform test
“A yellow crystal and antiseptic smell reveal a CH₃CO group.”
Methyl ketones and ethanol give a yellow iodoform precipitate.
Memory trick: Yellow ppt → CH₃CO group.
ChemistryAldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids· Class 12
Esterification is reversible
“Le Chatelier turns a reversible reaction into a productive one.”
Acid + alcohol ⇌ ester + water; removing water drives it forward.
Memory trick: Remove water → more ester.
ChemistryRedox Reactions· Class 11
Disproportionation
“Chlorine in water both gains and loses electrons at once.”
A single species is simultaneously oxidised and reduced.
Memory trick: Self oxidation + reduction.
ChemistryChemical Thermodynamics· Class 11
Standard enthalpy of formation
“It's the reference book from which reaction enthalpies are computed.”
The enthalpy change when one mole of a compound forms from its elements in standard states.
Memory trick: Elements → 1 mole compound.
ChemistryChemical Thermodynamics· Class 11
Spontaneity and temperature
“Ice melts spontaneously above 0°C but not below — temperature tips ΔG.”
Whether a reaction is spontaneous can flip with temperature, since ΔG = ΔH − TΔS.
Memory trick: T can flip spontaneity.
ChemistryGeneral Principles of Metallurgy· Class 12
Electrolytic refining
“Copper wires are refined to 99.99% purity this way.”
Impure metal is purified by electrolysis, depositing pure metal on the cathode.
Memory trick: Pure metal plates the cathode.
ChemistryPolymers· Class 12
Vulcanisation of rubber
“Goodyear's accidental discovery gave us durable car tyres.”
Heating rubber with sulphur cross-links the chains, making it tough and elastic.
Memory trick: Sulphur cross-links rubber.
ChemistryPolymers· Class 12
Biodegradable polymers
“Green plastics that rot away instead of choking landfills.”
Polymers like PHBV break down naturally, easing plastic pollution.
Memory trick: Break down naturally.
ChemistryChemistry in Everyday Life· Class 12
Antiseptics vs disinfectants
“Dettol on a cut is antiseptic; floor cleaner is disinfectant.”
Antiseptics are safe on living tissue; disinfectants are for inanimate surfaces.
Memory trick: Skin-safe vs surface-only.
ChemistryChemistry in Everyday Life· Class 12
Artificial sweeteners
“They trick the tongue without feeding the waistline.”
Compounds like aspartame sweeten food with negligible calories.
Memory trick: Sweet taste, few calories.
ChemistryChemistry in Everyday Life· Class 12
Food preservatives
“They quietly extend the shelf life of your pantry.”
Substances like sodium benzoate slow microbial spoilage of food.
Memory trick: Slow spoilage.
ChemistryChemistry in Everyday Life· Class 12
Analgesics
“Aspirin also thins blood, protecting hearts.”
Painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol relieve pain.
Memory trick: Relieve pain.
ChemistrySome Basic Concepts (Mole Concept)· Class 11
Molar volume at STP
“Count any gas by volume — 22.4 L is one mole of it.”
One mole of any ideal gas occupies 22.4 L at STP (0°C, 1 atm).
22.4 L/mol
Memory trick: 22.4 L per mole at STP.
ChemistryElectrochemistry· Class 12
Faraday constant
“It's the exchange rate between moles of electrons and coulombs.”
The charge carried by one mole of electrons, about 96500 C.
F ≈ 96500 C
Memory trick: ~96500 C per mole e⁻.