Strategy for Chemistry Paper-1 Continued...

Electrchemistry: Main books are PSP, K.L.Kapoor, Atkins, Castellan, Alberty & Silbey …

Other reference books are:
Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications by Bard and Faulkner(2nd edition)
Vogel’s Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis (5th edition)
Fundametntal of Analytical Chemistry by Skoog (8th edition)
Electrochemistry is an important chapter of Physical chemistry and every year 40-80 marks questions are asked from this topic so prepare it in depth covering all the grey areas…for this topic material availability has always been a problem but the books that I have mentioned will be quite useful…
Debye-Huckel theory of strong electrolytes and Debye-Huckel limiting Law for various equilibrium and transport properties: The derivation of Debye-Huckel theory is very lengthy so it can be left ….but prepare the old questions that have come in this topic esp CSE2002 & CSE 2007 question…
Concentration cells: prepare a write up on concentration cells from K.L.Kapoor, PSP, page 392 of Castellan.. Prepare answers to the CSE2001, CSE2003 and IFS 2002 questions on this topic.
Galvanic cells, electrochemical series, measurement of e.m.f. of cells: read from page 216-233 of Atkins, Chapter 17 of Castellan, K.L.Kapoor and PSP…
Fuel cells and batteries: prepare the fuell cells from Alberty & Silbey,page 947 of Atkins batteries from K.L.Kapoor, PSP…
Processes at electrodes; double layer at the interface; rate of charge transfer, current density; over potential: read it from page 932 of Atkins…read it from PSP, K.L.Kapoor, read it from Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis (5th Edition), read double layer at interface from page 432 of Castellan..
Electroanalytical techniques: Polarography, amperometry, ion selective electrodes and their uses: for polarography read it from page 592 Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis by Vogel (5th Edition)… PSP, and chapter-7 of Electrochemical methods by Bard and Faulkner…Do prepare the Ilkovic equation’s derivation and also E1/2 cell derivation….Prepare amperometry from Page 626 of Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis by Vogel (5th Edition)
For Ion-selective Electrodes: Read from page 92 of Electrochemical methods by Bard and Faulkner and also read chapter -21(Potentiometry) from Fundamental of Analytical Chemistry by Skoog (8th edition)

Chemical Kinetics: Main books are Atkins, Alberty & Silbey, Laidler, Castellan, PSP

Differential and integral rate equations for zeroth, first, second and fractional order reactions: read it from PSP, Atkins, Alberty & Silbey

Rate equations involving reverse, parallel, consecutive and chain reactions; branching chain and explosion: Prepare from PSP, Castellan, Atkins

Study of fast reactions by stop-flow and relaxation methods: Prepare it from Atkins, Castellan, Alberty & Silbey..

Collisions and transition state theories: Prepare it from PSP, Atkins...solve all the previously asked questions....

Photochemistry: Main books are PSP, Atkins, Alberty & Silbey, Laidler..
Absorption of light: prepare the quantum yield…and solve numerical that have appeared earlier…go through all the solved examples on Quantum yield from Atkins and Alberty & Silbey….
Decay of excited state by different routes: prepare a write up on different processes…Jablonski diagram is very important…
Photochemical reactions between hydrogen and halogens and their quantum yields: prepare this topic comprehensively and also solve the IFS questions of 2008 and 2009…prepare it from Laidler also….topic of comparison of photochemical reactions of halogens: do it from Laidler…

Surface Phenomena and Catalysis: Main books are PSP, Atkins, Alberty & Silbey, Castellan, K.L.Kapoor, Laidler..
Absorption from gases on solid adsorbents: prepare the basics of adsorption like difference between Physical and Chemical Adsorption, types of adsorption of gases on solids…the factors on which the adsorption depends upon etc…read page 426-432 of Castellan(3rd edition)
Absorption from solutions on solid adsorbents: read chapter 11th from Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (6thEd) by Adamson…Also prepare the Gibbs’ adsorption isotherm and its experimental verification: read page 420-424 of Castellan (3rd edition)
Langmuir and B.E.T. adsorption isotherms: Prepare the kinetic derivation of Langmuir from Alberty & Silbey…prepare the B.E.T derivation from page 428 of Castellan and from chapter 17th of Physical Chemistry of Surfaces (6th Ed) by Adamson…prepare the derivation of Langmuir isotherm from the B.E.T. isotherm…prepare the answer for 2004 CSE question of isosteric enthalpy of adsorption from page 919 of Atkins...
Determination of surface area: Prepare CSE2002 question on determination of Surface area.
Characteristics and mechanism of reaction on heterogeneous catalysts: This had been the most important topic of this chapter so prepare a good writeup on this topic covering all the areas….Assumptions and the basic steps are best given in Brilliant solution of CSE2003….refer Alberty & Silbey for the further derivation…prepare an answer for the CSE2007 question on the Theories of Heterogeneous Catalysis from page 927 of Atkins & also from Laidler.

Bio-inorganic Chemistry:Main books are Cotton & Wilkinson, Huheey, Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry by Lippard, & Berg, J.D.Lee
Metal ions in biological systems: The material for this topic is scattered so one will have to read different sources and prepare an answer for this topic…the sources are: Inorganic Chemistry by Shriver & Atkins, Cotton and Wilkinson, Lippard & Berg and J.D.Lee…refer to the metal ions which have already been asked in CSE2008 and IFS2006 exams…
Metal ions in biological systems and their role in ion transport across the membranes (molecular mechanism): Prepare the Sodium-Potassium Pump from internet…First explain the structure of the pump and then process..the process can be seen in the given animations:http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter2/

animation__how_the_sodium_potassium_pump_works.html

http://www.brookscole.com/chemistry_d/templates/student_resources/shared_resources/

animations/ion_pump/ionpump.html
Oxygen-uptake proteins: prepare it from Cotton & Wilkinson and also from Huheey, Puri Sharma & Kalia.
Cytochromes: prepare Cytochromes from Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson and also from internet…do prepare a write up on Cytochromes-450..
Ferredoxins: prepare it from Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson and also from internet…prepare answer for IFS2007 question on Redox Interconversion in Ferredoxins(do it from Cotton & Wilkinson)...prepare the role of Ferredoxins in Photosynthesis…

Coordination Compounds: Main books are Puri Sharma & Kalia(PSK), Huheey,

Tuli & Madan, Cotton & Wilkinson, J.D.Lee, Shriver & Atkins, Meissler & Tarr

(i) Valence bond theory, crystal field theory and its modifications: Prepare the theory and examples of VBT from PSK, Tuli & Madan. Try to write an answer for a compulsory question on VBT, asked in CSE2006…Read CFT from PSK, Tuli & Madan, Huheey, J.D.Lee….read its modifications also…A good no of questions were asked from CFT in previous CS exams so try and prepare their write up….a lot of such questions are repeated in the current CS exam..
Applications of theories in the explanation of magnetism and electronic spectra of metal complexes: Read this topic from PSK, Cotton & Wilkinson, and Chapter 11 of Huheey and also from Chapter11 of Meissler & Tarr. Read the electronic spectra of various groups from J.D.Lee..Prepare answers to the questions asked in previous CS examinations..

(ii) Isomerism in coordination compounds: prepare all the types with examples from PSK and Huheey…
IUPAC nomenclature of coordination compounds: prepare the write up regarding the rules for writing IUPAC nomenclature and also solve the previous questions….
Stereochemistry of complexes with 4 and 6 coordination numbers: refer Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…
Chelate effect: Prepare it from Tuli & Madan and also from Huheey….
Polynuclear complexes: Prepare it from Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson, Tuli & Madan..
Trans effect and its theories: Best given in Meissler & Tarr, also refer to Tuli & Madan…
Kinetics of substitution reactions in square-planer complexes: refer Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson, Shriver & Atkins and also Tuli & Madan….Prepare IFS2007 question on substitution.
Thermodynamic and kinetic stability of complexes: Prepare the write up from Tuli & Madan, Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…

(iii) EAN rule: Prepare it from Tuli & Madan….
Synthesis structure and reactivity of metal carbonyls: Prepare it from Tuli & Madan, Huheey. Cotton & Wilkinson, PSK…prepare all the earlier asked questions….
Synthesis structure and reactivity of carboxylate anions, carbonyl hydrides and metal nitrosyl compounds: Prepare it from PSK, Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson

(iv) Complexes with aromatic systems, synthesis, structure and bonding in metal olefin complexes, alkyne complexes: prepare it from PSK, Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…
Cyclopentadienyl complexes: This is a very important topic so prepare it carefully…read from Huheey, prepare the MO diagram of Ferrocene from Cotton & Wilkinson
Coordinative unsaturation, oxidative addition reactions, insertion reactions: Prepare from Huheey, PSK
Fluxional molecules and their characterization: refer Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…
Compounds with metal-metal bonds and metal atom clusters: refer PSK, Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…Prepare a write up on this topic…

Main Group Chemistry:
I did not prepare this topic at all....but basics can be prepared from Huheey & J.D.Lee

General Chemistry of ‘f’ Block Elements:
Prepare it from Tuli & Madan, J.D.Lee, Huheey, Cotton & Wilkinson…..prepare answers for all the previously asked questions…

Feel Free to ask any doubt regarding Chemistry...please post ur queries related to Chemistry under this topic...

Strategy for Chemistry Paper-1

I have secured 391 (200 + 191) in Chemistry in CSE 2009. I had 310 in CSE 2007 and 305 in CSE2006. The improvement that I made was primarily in Chemistry Paper-2, in which I had 134 and 133 marks in last two attempts. In this attempt I focused more on paper–2 of Chemistry and luckily it gave me dividends…For Paper-2, I have already enumerated the reading list. Now I will give topic wise reading list for Chemistry Paper-1.

The books that I referred were following:

1. Physical Chemistry : Atkins (8^th Edition)
2. Physical Chemistry : Alberty and Silbey
3. Physical Chemistry: Castellan
4. Physical Chemistry : K.L.Kapoor ( all 5 volumes)
5. Physical Chemistry: Puri, Sharma and Pathania (PSP)
6. Chemical Kinetics: Laider
7. Physical Chemistry of Surfaces: ARTHUR W. ADAMSON
8. Inorganic Chemistry :Principles of Structure & Reactivity, Huheey, Keiter & Keiter(4^th Edition)

9. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry : Cotton and Wilkinson
10. Selected Topics in Inorganic Chemistry: Tuli and Madan
11. Inorganic Chemistry : Puri Sharma and Kalia (PSK)
12. Inorganic Chemistry: Meissler and Tarr
13. Inorganic Chemistry : J.D.Lee

One thing I would like to make it clear that it is not required to read all these books from cover to cover...some of them are main books (like PSP, Atkins, Huheey) where as some are reference books…..

For the major topics of Chemistry paper-1, I relied heavily on the notes of Mr.R.K.Singh (earlier faculty of Chemistry at DIAS coaching, Delhi), which were made from Brilliant’s notes and Puri Sharma, & Pathania. I kept on adding new topics and improving older topics by consulting a no of foreign author’s books. First thing before start of any chapter is to make a topics wise list of all the previous year’s questions (not only 10 year, but almost all questions of last 20-25 years) of Civil Service Exam and Indian Forest Service Exam [IFS](for which the papers are available for last 10 years). This will enable you to know about the kind of questions that are being asked from a particular chapter...Next thing is to prepare each topic thoroughly keeping the previous year’s questions in mind…In chemistry paper-I prepare all the 15 topics, but some of the topics may be prepared at a very basic level like Bio-inorganic Chemistry, Main Group Chemistry.

The idea of completeness of the preparation is that "one should be able to write a good answer on any of the topic given in the syllabus and should be able to answer any of the previous year's question of CSE and IFS"...

Now lets us discuss chapter wise references for the Chemistry Paper-1:

Atomic Structure:

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle: prepare a good write up on this topic from Atkins and Alberty & Silbey. Solve all the previous IFS exam questions. In CSE exam once the exact proof of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle was asked so prepare it. Prepare question no.3 of IFS 2009 Exam (40 marks question on Uncertainty Principle)

Particle in one-dimensional box: do solve some of the numerical from this topic…prepare the dienen problem based on this concept...

hydrogen atom wave functions; Shapes of s, p and d orbitals: prepare this from Atkins, Huheey and Alberty & Silbey..Prepare an answer for a 40 marks question asked in IFS2008 exam. Solve some numerical on calculation of average radius, most probable radius of 1s orbital of hydrogen atom etc..Solve the numerical asked in IFS2007 exam (these were the unsolved problems of Atkins)..prepare shielding concept in Hydrogen atom from page 30 of Huheey(4^th edition)

Prepare IFS2008 question of Bosons and its symmetry (from Atkins and Silbey)

Prepare CSE2006 question of Aufbau Principle, Hund’s rule etc from J.D.Lee, Huheey

Chemical Bonding:

Ionic bond ,Characteristics of ionic compounds: prepare it from page 92 of Huheey(4^th edition) and also from Tuli & Madan..

Lattice energy: prepare Born-Lande equation from Huheey, J.D.Lee and also prepare limitations of this equation from Cotton and Wilkinson…..Calculate Madelung’s Constant from NaCl and CsCl which was earlier asked in CSE, prepare it from Puri Sharma and Kalia…

Born-Haber cycle: prepare it from Huheey, PSK and Tuli & Madan and also from Cotton & Wilkinson..Prepare question 8(a) of IFS 2009 exam..

Covalent bond and its general characteristics, polarities of bonds in molecules and their dipole moments: prepare it from Huheey, PSK, Tuli & Madan….prepare an answer to the question of polarity of covalent bond asked in CSE2005 from Tuli & Madan…prepare results of polarization from page 131 of Huheey(4^th edition).

Valence bond theory: very less material is available on this topic…so one will have to consult different books…prepare basic from Tuli & Madan and Huheey…some basic concept is given in Physical Chemistry by Engel and Reid…prepare CSE2007 question of VBT…

Concept of resonance and resonance energy: prepare it from Tuli & Madan, PSK, Huheey

Molecular orbital theory (LCAO method); bonding in H₂⁺, H2, He₂⁺ to Ne₂, NO, CO, HF, and CN^–: This is an important topic and every year atleast 20- 40 marks questions are asked so prepare it exhaustively….refer PSK, Tuli & Madan and Huheey..prepare Coulson model of CO from Tuli & Madan and solve a question asked in CSE 1999 about CO (from J.D.Lee)

Prepare the sp³ orbital question asked CSE2005 question from PSK…also prepare the explanation that why CO₂ is linear but SO₂ is bent (CSE2005) question (Source: PSK)

Comparison of valence bond and molecular orbital theories: prepare it from PSK,

Bond order, bond strength and bond length: prepare the question asked from Inorganic Chemistry by Shriver & Atkins, page 232 of Huheey (4^th edition)

Solid State: Main books are : Atkins, Alberty & Silbey, PSP, Huheey , Cotton & Wilkinson

Crystal systems; Designation of crystal faces, lattice structures and unit cell: prepare it from PSP, Atkins, Chapter-27 of Physical Chemistry by Castellan….

Prepare the types of Solids (it is an important topic) from Alberty and Silbey…prepare Ionic radii, atomic radii, covalent radii from Huheey

Bragg's law; X-ray diffraction by crystals: prepare the write up of Bragg’s law from Alberty and Silbey..Prepare the concept of Structural factor from Atkins and from K.L.Kapoor…solve CSE2006 question 1(a) why NaCl is Fcc and CsCl is Bcc…

Close packing: prepare a write up on this topic from PSK, Huheey, Cotton and Wilkinsons…prepare answer for IFS 2007 question on Voids…

Radius ratio rules, calculation of some limiting radius ratio values: prepare it from PSP, Atkins read it from page 122 of Huheey ( 4^th edition)…

Structures of NaCl, ZnS, CsCl and CaF₂: prepare and practice it from PSK….

Stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric defects, impurity defects: read it from J.D.Lee, Huheey and also from Cotton & Wilkinson…add thermodynamics of defects diagram from Shriver & Atkins. Solve the CSE 2005 section-B compulsory question of Nickel defect (Huheey and Shriver & Atkins). Prepare the derivation of Schottky defect from PSP (this was the question asked in IFS 2008)….

Semi-conductors: prepare this topic from Huheey, J.D.Lee….prepare photo excited semi-conductor from Huheey….

The Gaseous State and Transport Phenomenon: Main books are PSP, Atkins, Castellan, Alberty & Silbey

Equation of state for real gases: do write the assumptions for the derivation of Vander waal’s gas. Prepare the experiment for the determination of Critical constants ( CSE 2007) question from K.L.Kapoor..do solve some of the old questions of Vander Waals gas… Prepare the Law of Corresponding States from Atkins…do not forget to mention the limitations of this law…refer to the chaper-3 in Castellan also…

Intermolecular interactions: prepare it from PSP and also from Atkins and Huheey….prepare the answer for the IFS questions asked on this topic in 2006, 2007 (source: Huheey)…

Maxwell's distribution of speeds: prepare it from PSP, Castellan,Atkins, Alberty & Silbey…so prepare the experimental verification of Maxwell’s distribution (from Castellan)

Intermolecular collisions, collisions on the wall and effusion: Prepare the effusion topic from Atkins and also from Alberty & Silbey….do practice all the numerical given in these books on this topic…

Thermal conductivity and viscosity of ideal gases: prepare this topic from K.L.Kapoor and write the conclusion from Atkins…

Liquid State: Main books for this topic are K.LKapoor, PSP, Castellan, Atkins

Kelvin equation: prepare it from Atkins and Alberty & Silbey, page 414 of Castellan

Surface tension and surface energy: prepare it from PSP and K.L.Kapoor….do prepare the experimental measurement of Surface Tension(from Castellan)…

Wetting and contact angle: refer PSP, K.L.Kapoor, Castellan

Interfacial tension and capillary action: refer PSP, Atkins and Castellan

Thermodynamics: This is an important topic of the syllabus and every year approx 60-80 marks questions are asked…so prepare it thoroughly and extensively….main references are Atkins, Alberty & Silbey, Castellan and K.L.Kapoor…Atkins and Alberty & Silbey have dealt this chapter in an extensive manner…

Entropy as a state function, entropy changes in various processes, entropy–reversibility and irreversibility: prepare all the major proofs of entropy from Atkins( dealt very nicely) , Alberty & Silbey and Castellan..Prepare an answer for all the old questions that were asked from this topic..Almost every year a question is asked from this topic…

Free energy functions: prepare it from Atkins (page95), chapter-10, Spontaneity and Equilibrium from Castellan…

Thermodynamic equation of state: page 210 of Castellan

Maxwell relations: prepare all the major derivations from Maxwell, given in K.L.Kapoor…

Temperature, volume and pressure dependence of U, H, A, G, C_p and C_v, α and β: prepare it from Atkins, K.L.Kapoor…

J-T effect and inversion temperature: prepare it from K.L.Kapoor , Atkins and PSP

Nernst heat theorem, introductory idea of third law of thermodynamics: prepare it from Atkins and Alberty & Silbey…

Criteria for equilibrium: read chapter-10, Spontaneity and Equilibrium from Castellan…

Read Differential Scanning Calorimeter from Atkins and Engel & Reid….

Phase Equilibria and Solutions:

Clausius-Clapeyron equation: practice some of the numerical on this topic….its better to solve all the previous year’s problems on this topic…

Phase diagram for a pure substance: prepare the phase diagram of H₂O( from PSP, Atkins) and also that of sulphur, CO₂

Phase equilibria in binary systems: prepare the Binary phase Equilibria for both Eutectic system

Partially miscible liquids–upper and lower critical solution temperatures: prepare it from Atkins and K.L.Kapoor…prepare answer for the 2004 CSE question and also for CSE2007 question on this topic….

Partial molar quantities, their significance and determination: read it from Atkins, K.L.Kapoor, Castellan…prepare a write up on this topic…

Excess thermodynamic functions and their determination: prepare it from Atkins and also from K.L.Kapoor…..

Prepare the CSE2001 question on the 1^st , 2^nd and ƛ-order phase transitions…do it from Atkins…

Prepare fractional distillation from any of the book …this was the question asked in IFS2006