The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials designed a science syllabus for class 10. CBSE will also conduct the exam for class 10.
In this article, the detailed syllabus of chemistry class 10 will be discussed. The knowledge of a detailed syllabus will help students prepare study schedules and understand exam papers and marking patterns.
The syllabus of CBSE class 10 was reduced to 30% for the academic year 2020-21 because of a pandemic, but now it is again restored to 100%.
The science for class 10 is divided into five units. Unit 1 is dedicated to chemistry, and the name of the unit is Chemical substance – Nature, and behaviour. Evaluation is done in two terms. In term-I and term-II. Total marks for theory are 40 and for internal assessment are 10 for each term. The unit of chemistry is divided into five chapters, and the weightage for each chapter is fixed.
Theory syllabus of CBSE Class X Chemistry
| Unit number & name | Chapter name | Weightage (Marks) |
| Chemical substances – nature and behaviour | Chemical reactions and equation: Chemical equation, Balanced chemical equation, implications of a balanced chemical equation, types of chemical reactions: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, precipitation, neutralization, oxidation, and reduction. | 3 |
| Acids, bases and salts: Acid, base and salt definitions in terms of furnishing of H+ and OH– ions, General properties, examples, and uses, the concept of pH scale, the importance of pH in everyday life; preparation and uses of Sodium Hydroxide, bleaching powder, baking soda, washing soda and Plaster of Paris. | 7 | |
| Metals and non-metals: Properties of metals and non-metals; Reactivity series; Formation and properties of ionic compounds; Corrosion and its prevention. | 6 | |
| Carbon and it’s compound: Covalent bonding in carbon compound, chemical properties of carbon compounds, versatile nature of carbon, homologous series, the difference between saturated hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons, | 3 | |
| Periodic classification of elements: Need for classification, early attempts at classification of elements (Dobereiner’s Triads, Newland’s Law of Octaves, Mendeleev’s Periodic Table), Modern periodic table, gradation in properties, valency, atomic number, metallic and non-metallic properties. | 7 | |
| Total | 26 |
CBSE Class X Summary of theory syllabus
All the five chapters of the unit I Chemical substances – nature and behaviour are essential. Chapter 1 and 4 carry three marks each. Chapter 3 has six marks. Chapters 2 and 5 take seven marks each. In chapter 1, students will learn various types of chemical reactions and balancing a chemical equation. Chapter 2 will explain all about acid, base, and salts. The concept of pH scale and various salts used in daily life will also be explained. This chapter has a high weightage of 7 marks. The third chapter will discuss the properties of metals and non-metals and ionic compounds. The fourth chapter will explain the versatile nature of carbon and covalent bonds in organic compounds. This chapter is important because it will provide the foundation for organic chemistry for higher classes. The fifth chapter will deal with the history of the periodic table, Mendeleev’s periodic table, and various periodic trends. This chapter also has a weightage of 7 marks.
CBSE Class X Chemistry Practical syllabus
The syllabus of practicals for class 10 science CBSE is also prepared by CBSE officials. So, here is the list of experiments.
- To determine pH of below-given samples by using pH paper or universal indicator.
(i) Dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution
(ii) Dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution
(iii) Dilute ethanoic acid solution
(iv) Lemon juice
(v) Water
(vi) Dilute hydrogen carbonate solution
The pH paper is a specific type of paper that changes its color when exposed to different pH. At pH 0 to 1, the pH paper shows red color. At pH 2, pH paper gives pink color, at pH 3 orange, at pH 4 beige, at pH 5 yellow, at pH 6 lime green, at pH 7 green, at pH 8 dark green color, at pH 9 turquoise, at pH 10 pale blue color, at 11 blue, at 12 dark blue, at 13 violet, and at 14 purple. pH below 6 is acidic, pH between 6-8 is neutral, and pH above 8 is alkaline.
- To study the properties of dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) and dilute sodium hydroxide (NaOH) base by reacting them with
(i) Litmus solution (Blue/Red)
(ii) Zinc metal
(iii) Solid sodium carbonate
- To perform and observe below given chemical reactions and classify them as combination reaction, decomposition reaction, displacement reaction, and double displacement reaction.
(i) Action of water on quicklime
(ii) Action of heat on ferrous sulfate crystals
(iii) Iron nails kept in copper sulfate solution
(iv) Reaction between sodium sulfate and barium chloride solution.
- A. To observe the action of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al metals on the salt solutions of ZnSO4 (aqueous), FeSO4 (aqueous), CuSO4 (aqueous), and Al2(SO4)3 (aqueous).
4. B. To arrange Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al (metals) in the decreasing order of reactivity based on the above result.
- To study the following properties of acetic acid (ethanoic acid).
(i) Odor
(ii) Solubility in water
(iii) Effect on Litmus
(iv) Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate
- To study the comparison between the cleaning capacity of soap with soft water and hard water.
CBSE Class X Summary of practical syllabus
This laboratory course will help students to understand the properties of acids, bases, and salts. Students will understand the reactivity of various metals with various salt solutions. Different types of chemical reactions will also be explored with live experiments. The concept of pH will be understood with all the examples. All these experiments will be beneficial in the understanding of theory facts. The overall weightage of the practical syllabus in CBSE class 10 science is 20 marks out of 100 marks. Out of 20, 6 or 7 marks are allotted for chemistry practical. No new experiment is added to the syllabus for the year 2021-22.
FAQs of CBSE Class 10 Chemistry
1. Is the weightage of marks the same in the question paper also?
Yes, the weightage of marks will be the same in the question paper also. For example, the question from chapter 5 (periodic classification of elements) will carry seven marks only.
2. Are the experiments that will be asked to perform in the exam be the same as listed in the syllabus?
Yes, the experiment that will be asked to perform in the exam will be any of those listed in the syllabus. But, every student can be asked with different experiments to perform.
3. Is it ok to leave any chapter?
No, you should not leave high-scoring chapters like chapters 2,3, and 5. Even it is not wise to leave low-scoring chapters like chapters 1 and 4 because these chapters have essential and basic information that will help understand the basic concepts of science and be required to learn advanced concepts of science.
4. What is the use of the CBSE class 10 chemistry syllabus?
Class 10 is a significant turning point for students in deciding career and opting science stream at a higher secondary level. To opt science stream in higher secondary requires a high score in science in class 10, and chemistry is part of math and biology. To score high in class 10, students need to have thorough knowledge about the subject.
5. Is there any reduction or addition in the CBSE class 10 chemistry syllabus for the year 2021-22?
There is no addition or reduction in the class 10 chemistry syllabus for the year 2021-22. But this time two exams will be conducted, first time in November and second time in March.