Strategy for IAS Examination with CHEMISTRY as an optional “ Secret of scoring maximum marks in chemistry “

Careful study of Chemistry syllabus and pattern of recent year questions reveals that it is one of scoring subjects in Mains examination with minimum effort. One requires focussed approach. good selection of books, well understanding and proper guidance to score good marks in Mains examination.

How to Prepare for prelims Examination
In the syllabus of preliminary this subject has three sections. First section includes Inorganic Chemistry, second section Organic Chemistry and third section Physical Chemistry. All three sections have been given equal weightage and forty questions are asked from each section Prelims examination, requires thorough study of each section and each topic. One thing important here is that the questions asked in Prelims examination are new and based on the concept and generally not found in any book or study matter A deep and thorough study of standard books will help in this respect. Proper understanding and development of concept will definitely help to score good marks in this examination. Here, proper selection of books, guidance from a well experienced teacher and proper practice from previous year papers or from our study material be extremely helpful.
Suggested Reading for Prelims
1. Physical Chemistry – Puri, Sharma – Pathania & K.L. Kapoor Vol 1 to 4.
2. Inorganic Chemistry – J.D. Lee/Madan, Malik & Tuli,

How to Prepare for Mains Examination?
In Mains the whole subject is divided into two papers, First paper includes Physical Chemistry and portions of Inorganic Chemistry while second paper includes Organic Chemistry, Polymers and
Spectroscopy. For the Physical Chemistry part, a good understanding of the topics and proper presentation will fetch good marks. In Physical Chemistry for any derivation, all the assumptions, proper figures / diagrams, thorough analysis along with its practical applications will bring good marks. To elaborate it further ,I take here one example, say, the question is to derive Clausius- claypeyeron equation. In answering this question your approach shouldl be
Step (a) It is applicable only for one component- two phase system like- solid- liquid, liquid- gas etc.
Step (b) Mention the thermodynamic criteria of equilibrium.
Step (c) Write down thermodynamic relation of free energy.
Step (d) Write down assumptions in the derivation.
Step (e) Write down its usefulness and applications.
If one writes this way, he can score upto 80 percent marks in Physical Chemistry.
For Inorganic Chemistry, a thorough- understanding is required. Sometimes the questions asked in the Physical Chemistry part are not scoring enough and the questions asked in Inorganic Chemistry are scoring , therfore a good preparation of Inorganic
Chemistry will give you good marks. One thing is to be noted here if proper presentation is done one can score more in Inorganic Chemisitry than Physical Chemistry. Proper presentation, in–depth analysis along with examples will helpful in scoring more. For both Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, the question papers of previous years are very helpful and by solving the previous year papers under proper guidance one can score around seventy- five percent marks in Paper I.
Second paper includes Organic Chemistry, Polymer and Spectroscopy. Here strategy should be different. To score good in this paper proper understanding and linkages are necessary. Organic Chemistry is always a building and dynamic concept so daily revision, practice, discussion under proper efficient and effective guidance will be helpful. For building good concepts
in Organic Chemistry, in read Morison &Boyd and I.L Finar (vol) for basics. These books are also helpful in the Prelims examination. Now a days, question asked in the Organic Chemistry, are directly taken from standard books. So after building the concepts one must follow these advanced books thoroughly Previous year question bank is necessary but not sufficient. For sufficiency and gaining confidence in this paper, one has to do at least 50 good questions from each topic and in this respect our institute will be very helpful. If one does all the above things thoroughly, one can score upto seventy percent marks in Chemistry, For this, proper guidance, hard work revision and proper practice will be very useful.

FRESHER’S TOOL- KIT

Physical Chemistry
(a) Physical Chemistry: Sharma Puri, & Pathania.
(b) A text book of Physical Chemistry: P.W. Atkins.
(c) Physical Chemistry Vol. 1 to 4:K.L Kapoor.
(d) Electrochemistry : Glasstone.

Inorganic Chemistry
(a) Inorganic Chemistry: Principle of structure and reactivity james E. Huheey, Ellen A Keiter, Richar L. Ketter.
(b) A text book of Inorganic Chemistry: JD.Lee
(c) A text book of Inorganic Chemistry: Madan Malik & Tuli Organic Chemistry
(a) Advanced Organic Chemistry: Francis A.Corey, Richard J Wothers
(b) Organic Chemistry: Claydon. Greeves. S.Warren. P. Wothers
(c) Principle of organic synthesis: Norman & Coxon.
(d) Advanced Organic chemistry. Reaction Mechanism and Structure: J March
(e) Principle of Spectroscopy: Silversteen
(f) Organic Spectroscopy: Kemp
(g) Reaction Mechanism: Mukherjee & Singh
(h) Organic Chemistry: A. Pine
(i) Text book of Spectroscopy : P.S. Kalsi