Chemistry is considered to be one of the hardest subjects to ace in CBSE Class 12. Students are required to memorize numerous elements, chemical reactions, and processes, but even that by itself is simply not sufficient to get good marks in Chemistry. Students are also expected to thoroughly understand each topic, as this is the only way in which they would be able to apply it. In addition to this, students need to appear for practical exams where they are expected to demonstrate what they have learned. For many students, all these aspects of Chemistry can become overwhelming, and they start considering different strategies for studying Chemistry.
Some students find that studying the more complex chapters first gives them more time to learn the difficult concepts, while others prefer studying the easier chapters first. Both of these methods have their own merits, and students can go through the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2021-2022 to decide which strategy they prefer. The syllabus provides up-to-date details about every topic and subtopic the student is expected to know. However, since the syllabus for the board exam is quite vast, students might still struggle with deciding which chapters are easy, and which ones are difficult. Students can go through the following chapters ranked in increasing order of difficulty to get an idea of how they can map out their study plan.
Chapter 14: Biomolecules
This chapter talks about Carbohydrates as a class of compounds, and their properties as well as types. It describes the different ways in which carbohydrates are classified. Students are introduced to tests to check the types of carbohydrates and are expected to know how carbohydrates react to different procedures. Proteins are also introduced in this chapter, along with the concepts of amino acids, vitamins, nucleic acids, and their functions. This chapter is often ranked low by students on the difficulty scale.
Chapter 2: Solutions
This chapter introduces students to the concept of solutions, and their types. It expands into the topics of solubility of different states, the characteristics of an ideal solution, colligative properties of solutions, etc. Students are also expected to learn about Raoult’s law, osmotic pressure, isotonic solutions, and the Vant Hoff factor in this chapter. Students tend to find this chapter relatively simple as compared to other chapters in the syllabus.
Chapter 15: Polymers
This chapter simplifies the concept of polymers and their types. Polymers are divided into three types according to source, three types based on structure, and two types about the mode of polymerization. Students are introduced to the concepts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable polymers and are expected to be able to identify and remember important polymers such as nylon, rubber, polythene, etc. This chapter is also considered fairly easy to study.
Chapter 1: Solid State
This chapter focuses entirely on solids, which are substances with fixed shapes and volume. The chapter talks about the characteristics as well as the classification of solids into crystalline solids (which can be ionic, covalent, metallic, or molecular solids) and amorphous solids. As a fundamental chapter, it also introduces students to concepts such as crystal lattice, unit cell, imperfections/defects, and their types, the classification of solids according to electrical conductivity into conductors, semiconductors or insulators, etc.
Chapter 16: Chemistry in Everyday Life
This final chapter is more practical-oriented, in the sense that it introduces students to the different applications of their curriculum. It talks about how chemistry has significantly improved the quality of human life in the form of medicines (tranquilizers, disinfectants, antibiotics, antacids, antifertility drugs, etc). It also refers to cleansing agents such as detergent and soap, as well as the chemicals used in food (artificial sweeteners, preservatives, etc). Students typically find this chapter quite easy as they can relate it to everyday experiences.
Chapter 4: Chemical Kinetics
This chapter talks about the rate of reactions, the factors affecting them, as well as the mechanisms behind the reactions. It introduces students to concepts such as specific reaction rate, order of reaction, modularity of reaction, first-order reaction, the temperature coefficient, etc. Students also learn about the important theories of reaction rates, such as the collision theory and the transition state theory. This is a chapter that many students tend to struggle with since it delves into physics quite a bit.
Chapter 11: Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers
This chapter talks about the classification of alcohols and phenols according to the number of hydroxyl groups they contain in their molecules. It introduces students to the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols, as well as simple and symmetrical ethers. It also explains the different methods of preparation of alcohols and phenols. This chapter contains numerous chemical reactions, which makes it one of the more difficult chapters in Organic Chemistry. Students who find it difficult to memorize chemical reactions are recommended to dedicate some extra time to this chapter.
Chapter 7: p-Block Elements
This chapter focuses on the Group 15, Group 16, Group 17, and Group 18 elements. It talks about the electronic configuration, occurrence, physical and chemical properties of these elements. The chapter goes through every element in detail and students are expected to be able to retain the characteristics of each of them. While this chapter is generally considered an interesting one, there are many exceptions specified in it, which can make it a difficult chapter to study.
Chapter 3: Electrochemistry
This chapter deals with the relationship between electric and chemical energy, as well as the inter-conversion from one form into another. Students learn about the electrochemical cell, which is of two types-electrolytic and galvanic. The chapter also talks about redox reactions, variations in concentration, and conductivity. It also introduces students to electrolysis and the laws of electrolysis. This chapter requires students to study and memorize different equations relevant to its contents. Additionally, students may find this chapter quite difficult since it is more physics-oriented.
Once students are familiar with the difficulty level of each chapter following their own strengths and weaknesses, they will be able to create a sequence by which they can start studying for their Chemistry exam. There is no correct or incorrect method of prioritizing which chapters need to be completed first; the student should only focus on finding a method that works for them.
