JAMB Syllabus For Chemistry EduNgr
JAMB Syllabus For Chemistry EduNgr
JAMB Syllabus For Chemistry EduNgr
Objectives:
2. Chemical combination
Topics:
Stoichiometry, laws of definite and multiple proportions, law of conservation of matter, Gay Lussac’s law of combining
volumes, Avogadro’s law; chemical symbols, formulae, equations and their uses, relative atomic mass based on
Objectives:
Objectives:
(a) (i)The concept of atoms, molecules and ions, the works of Dalton, Millikan, Rutherford, Moseley, Thompson and
Bohr.
(ii) Atomic structure, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number and isotopes; specific examples should be
drawn from elements of atomic number 1 to 20.
(iii) Shapes of s and p orbitals.
(b) The periodic table and periodicity of elements, presentation of the periodic table with a view to recognizing families
of elements e.g. alkali metals, halogens, the noble gases and transition metals. The variation of the following properties:
ionization energy, ionic radii, electron affinity and electronegativity.
(c) Chemical bonding. Electrovalency and covalency, the electron configuration of elements and their tendency to attain
the noble gas structure. Hydrogen bonding and metallic bonding as special types of electrovalency and covalency
respectively; coordinate bond as a type of covalent bond as illustrated by complexes like [Fe(CN)6]3-, [Fe(CN)6]4-,
[Cu(NH3)4]2+ and [Ag(NH3)2]+; van der Waals’ forces should be mentioned as a special type of bonding forces.
(d) Shapes of simple molecules: linear ((H2, O2, Cl2,HCl and CO2), non-linear (H2O) and tetrahedral; (CH4) and
pyramidal (NH3).
(e) Nuclear Chemistry:
(i) Radioactivity – Types and properties of radiations
(ii) Nuclear reactions. Simple equations, uses and applications of natural and artificial radioactivity.
Objectives:
5. Air
Topics:
(a) The natural gaseous constituents and their proportion in the air.- nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, carbon (IV) oxide
and the noble gases (argon and neon).
(b) Air as a mixture and some uses of the noble gas.
Objectives:
6. Water
Topics:
(a) Water as a product of the combustion of hydrogen and its composition by volume.
(b) Water as a solvent, atmospheric gases dissolved in water and their biological significance.
(c) Hard and soft water: Temporary and permanent hardness and methods of softeninghard water.
(d) Treatment of water for town supply.
(e) Water of crystallization, efflorescence, deliquescence and hygroscopy. Examples of the substances exhibiting these
properties and their uses.
Objectives:
7. Solubility
Topics:
(a) Unsaturated, saturated and supersaturated solutions. Solubility curves and simple deductions from them, (solubility
defined in terms of mole per dm3) and simple calculations.
(b) Solvents for fats, oil and paints and the use of such solvents for the removal of stains.
(c) False solution (Suspensions and colloids): Properties and examples. Harmattan haze and water paints as examples of
suspensions and fog, milk, aerosol spray, emulsion paints and rubber solution as examples of colloids.
Objectives:
8. Environmental Pollution
Topics:
Objectives:
(a) General characteristics and properties of acids, bases and salts. Acids/base indicators, basicity of acids; normal,
acidic, basic and double salts. An acid defined as a substance whose aqueous solution furnishes H3O+ions or as a
proton donor. Ethanoic, citric and tartaric acids as examples of naturally occurring organic acids, alums as examples of
double salts, preparation of salts by neutralization, precipitation and action of acids on metals. Oxides and
trioxocarbonate (IV) salts
(b) Qualitative comparison of the conductances of molar solutions of strong and weak acids and bases, relationship
between conductance and amount of ions present.
(c) pH and pOH scale; Simple calculations
(d) Acid/base titrations.
(e) Hydrolysis of salts: Principle Simple examples such as NH4Cl, AlCl3, Na2CO3 and CH3COONa
Objectives:
(d) Use of oxidation numbers. Oxidation and reduction treated as change in oxidation number and use of oxidation
numbers in balancing simple equations.
(e) IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic compounds using oxidation number.
(f) Tests for oxidizing and reducing agents.
Objectives:
11. Electrolysis
Topics:
Objectives:
(a) Energy changes ∆H accompanying physical and chemical changes: dissolution of substances in/or reaction with
water e.g. Na, NaOH, K, NH4Cl. Endothermic +∆H and exothermic -∆H reactions.
(b) Entropy as an order-disorder phenomenon: simple illustrations like mixing of gases and dissolution of salts.
(c) Spontaneity of reactions: ∆G = 0 as a criterion for equilibrium, ∆G greater or less than zero as a criterion for non-
spontaneity or spontaneity respectively.
Objectives:
(a) Elementary treatment of the following factors which can change the rate of a chemical reaction:
(i) Temperature e.g. the reaction between HCl and Na2S2O3 or Mg and HCl
(ii) Concentration e.g. the reaction between HCl and Na2S2O3, HCl and marble and the iodine clock reaction, for
gaseous systems, pressure may be used as concentration term.
(iii) Surface area e.g. the reaction between marble and HCl with
marble in
(i) powdered form
(ii) lumps of the same mass.
(iv) Catalyst e.g. the decomposition of H2O2 or KClO3 in the presence or absence of MnO2
(b) Reaction rate curves.
(c) Activation energy Qualitative treatment of Arrhenius’ law and the collision theory, effect of light on some reactions.
e.g. halogenation of alkanes
Objectives:
Reversible reactions and factors governingthe equilibrium position. Dynamicequilibrium. Le Chatelier’s principle and
equilibrium constant. Simple examples to include action of steam on iron and N2O4 2NO2. No calculation will be
required.
Objectives:
(a) Hydrogen: commercial production from water gas and cracking of petroleum fractions, laboratory preparation,
properties, uses and test for hydrogen.
(b) Halogens: Chlorine as a representative element of the halogen. Laboratory preparation, industrial preparation by
electrolysis, properties and uses, e.g. water sterilization, bleaching, manufacture of HCl, plastics and insecticides.
Hydrogen chloride and Hydrochloric acid: Preparation and properties. Chlorides and test for chlorides.
(c) Oxygen and Sulphur
(i) Oxygen: Laboratory preparation, properties and uses. Commercial production from liquid air. Oxides: Acidic,basic,
amphoteric and neutral, trioxygen (ozone) as an allotrope and the importance of ozone in the atmosphere.
(ii) Sulphur: Uses and allotropes: preparation of allotropes is not expected . Preparation, properties and uses of
sulphur(IV) oxide, the reaction of SO2 with alkalis. Trioxosulphate (IV) acid and its salts, the effect of acids on salts of
trioxosulphate(IV), Tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid: Commercial preparation (contact process only), properties as a dilute
acid, an oxidizing and a dehydrating agent and uses. Test for SO42-. Hydrogen sulphide: Preparation and properties as a
weak acid, reducing agent and precipitating agent. Test for S2-
(d) Nitrogen:
(i) Laboratory preparation
(ii) Production from liquid air
(iii) Ammonia: Laboratory and industrial preparations (Haber Process only), properties and uses, ammonium salts and
their uses, oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen (IV) oxide and trioxonitrate (V) acid. Test for NH4+
(iv) Trioxonitrate (V) acid: Laboratory preparation from ammonia; properties and uses. Trioxonitrate (V) salt- action of
heat and uses. Test for NO3-
(v) Oxides of nitrogen: Properties. The nitrogen cycle.
(e) Carbon:
(i) Allotropes: Uses and properties
(ii) Carbon(IV) oxide- Laboratory preparation, properties and uses. Action of heat on trioxocarbonate (IV) salts and test
for CO32-
(iii) Carbon(II) oxide: Laboratory preparation, properties including its effect on blood; sources of carbon (II) oxide to
include charcoal, fire and exhaust fumes.
(iv) Coal: Different types, products obtained from destructive distillation of wood and coal.
(v) Coke: Gasification and uses. Manufacture of synthetic gas and uses.
Objectives:
Objectives:
(xxiv) specify the constituents and uses of the various alloys mentioned.
(xxv) compare the properties and uses of alloys to pure metals.
An introduction to the tetravalency of carbon, the general formula, IUPAC nomenclature and the determination of
empirical formula of each class of the organic compounds mentioned below.
(a) Aliphatic hydrocarbons
(i) Alkanes Homologous series in relation to physical properties, substitution reaction and a few examples and uses of
halogenated products. Isomerism: structural only (examples on isomerism should not go beyond six carbon atoms).
Petroleum: composition, fractional distillation and major products; cracking and reforming, Petrochemicals – starting
materials of organic syntheses, quality of petrol and meaning of octane number.
(ii) Alkenes Isomerism: structural and geometric isomerism, additional and polymerization reactions, polythene and
synthetic rubber as examples of products of polymerization and its use in vulcanization.
(iii) Alkynes Ethyne – production from action of water on carbides, simple reactions and properties of ethyne.
(b) Aromatic hydrocarbons e.g. benzene – structure, properties and uses.
(c) Alkanols Primary, secondary, tertiary – production of ethanol by fermentation and from petroleum by-products.
Local examples of fermentation and distillation, e.g. gin from palm wine and other local sources and glycerol as a
polyhydric alkanol. Reactions of OH group – oxidation as a distinguishing test among primary, secondary and tertiary
alkanols (Lucas test).
(d) Alkanals and alkanones. Chemical test to distinguish between alkanals and alkanones.
(e) Alkanoic acids. Chemical reactions; neutralization and esterification, ethanedioic (oxalic) acid as an example of a
dicarboxylic acid and benzene carboxylic acid as an
example of an aromatic acid.
(f) Alkanoates Formation from alkanoic acids and alkanols – fats and oils as alkanoates. Saponification: Production of
soap and margarine from alkanoates and distinction between detergents and soaps.
(g) Amines (Alkanamines) Primary, Secondary, and tertiary
(h) Carbohydrates
Classification – mono-, di- and polysaccharides; composition, chemical tests for simple sugars and reaction with
concentrated tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid. Hydrolysis of complex sugars e.g. cellulose from cotton and starch from
cassava, the uses of sugar and starch in the production of alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
(i) Proteins: Primary structures, hydrolysis and tests (Ninhydrin, Biuret, Millon’s and xanthoproteic)
Enzymes and their functions.
(j) Polymers: Natural and synthetic rubber; addition and condensation polymerization. – Methods of preparation,
examples and uses. Thermoplastic and thermosetting plastics.
Objectives:
Objectives:
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
1. New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools, Ababio, O. Y. (2009), (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana
FIRST Publishers Limited.
2. Senior Secondary Chemistry, Bajah, S.T.; Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G.; and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999), Books 2 and 3
(2000). Lagos: Longman.
3. Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, Ojokuku, G. O. (2012, Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On
Chemresources.
4. Essential: Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools, (2008), 2nd Edition, I. A. Odesina, Lagos: Tonad Publishers
Limited.
5. Countdown to WASSCE/SSCE, NECO, JME Chemistry, Uche, I. O.; Adenuga, I. J. and Iwuagwu, S. L. (2003).
Ibadan: Evans.