ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus is provided here in detail. The syllabus contains an overview of the topics which students have to study throughout the academic year. It also helps ICSE Class 10 students in planning their studies in an organised way. The syllabus is prepared by the council and contains complete detail on course structure and subtopics related to the Chemistry subject. The syllabus created by the ICSE will help in building the concepts for the next class and engineering & medical entrance exams.

Given below the detailed syllabus of ICSE Class 10 Chemistry along with the practical syllabus mentioned in it. Students can download ICSE Syllabus for Class 10 PDF by clicking on the link below.

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus PDF for the Year 2022 – Download Reduced PDF

Chemistry exam pattern for ICSE Class 10 will give an overview of the exact question paper pattern and marks distribution. It will help students to understand the essential topics that need to be prepared effectively. Students should go through the exam pattern before starting their preparation.

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry (Theory Paper) Exam Pattern

There is one paper of 2 hours duration of 80 marks and an Internal Assessment of practical work carrying 20 marks. The paper is divided into two sections: Section I (40 marks) and Section B (40 marks). Section I (compulsory) contains short answer questions on the entire syllabus. Section II contains six questions. Students are required to answer any four of these six questions.

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Marking Scheme

Reduced ICSE Syllabus for Class 10 Chemistry for the Year 2022

Now, after knowing the exam pattern and marking scheme, students can have a look at the detailed ICSE Syllabus for Class 10. This syllabus is taken from the official ICSE site. Here, students can find the topic name and sub-topics under it.

1. Periodic Properties and variations of Properties – Physical and Chemical

(i) Periodic properties and their variations in groups and periods. Definitions of the following periodic properties and trends in these properties in groups and periods should be studied:

• Atomic size
• Metallic character
• Non-metallic character
• Ionisation potential
• Electron affinity
• Electronegativity

(ii) Periodicity on the basis of atomic number for elements.

• The study of modern periodic table up to period 3 (students to be exposed to the complete modern periodic table but no questions will be asked on elements beyond period 3 – Argon);
• Periodicity and other related properties to be explained on the basis of nuclear charge and shells (not orbitals).

2. Chemical Bonding

Electrovalent, covalent and co-ordinate bonding, structures of various compounds – orbit structure and electron dot structure.

(a) Electrovalent Bonding:

• Electron dot structure of Electrovalent compounds NaCl, MgCl₂, CaO.
• Characteristic properties of electrovalent compounds – state of existence, melting and boiling points, conductivity (heat and electricity), dissociation in solution and in molten state to be linked with electrolysis.

(b) Covalent Bonding:

• Electron dot structure of covalent molecules on the basis of duplet and octet of electrons (example: hydrogen, chlorine, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon tetrachloride, methane.
• Polar Covalent compounds – based on difference in electronegativity:
  Examples – HCl and H₂O including structures.
• Characteristic properties of Covalent compounds – state of existence, melting and boiling points, conductivity (heat and electricity), ionisation in solution.
  Comparison of Electrovalent and Covalent compounds.

(c) Coordinate Bonding:

• Definition
• The lone pair effect of the oxygen atom of the water molecule and the nitrogen atom of the ammonia molecule to explain the formation of H₃O⁺ and OH^– ions in water and NH₄⁺ ion.
  The meaning of lone pair; the formation of hydronium ion and ammonium ion must be explained with help of electron dot diagrams.

3. Study of Acids, Bases and Salts

(i) Simple definitions in terms of the molecules and their characteristic properties.

(ii) Ions present in mineral acids, alkalis and salts and their solutions; use of litmus and pH paper to test for acidity and alkalinity.

• Examples with equation for the ionisation/dissociation of ions of acids, bases and salts.
• Acids form hydronium ions (only positive ions) which turn blue litmus red, alkalis form hydroxyl ions (only negative ions) with water which turns red litmus blue.
• Definitions – Salts are formed by partial or complete replacement of the hydrogen ion of an acid by a metal or Ionic definition of salt (To be explained with suitable examples).
• Introduction to pH scale to test for acidity, neutrality and alkalinity by using pH paper or Universal indicator.
• Types of salts: normal salts, acid salt, basic salt, definition and examples.

4. Analytical Chemistry

(i) Action of Ammonium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide on solution of salts: colour of salt and its solution; formation and colour of hydroxide precipitated for solutions of salts of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb; special action of ammonium hydroxide on solutions of copper salt and sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts.

On solution of salts:

• Colour of salt and its solution.
• Action on addition of Sodium Hydroxide to solution of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb salts drop by drop in excess. Formation and colour of hydroxide precipitated to be highlighted with the help of equations.
• Action on addition of Ammonium Hydroxide to solution of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb salts drop by drop in excess. Formation and colour of hydroxide precipitated to be highlighted with the help of equations.
• Special action of Ammonium Hydroxide on solutions of copper salts and sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts.

(ii) Action of alkalis (NaOH, KOH) on certain metals, their oxides and hydroxides.

The metals must include aluminium, zinc and lead, their oxides and hydroxides, which react with caustic alkalis (NaOH, KOH), showing the amphoteric nature of these substances.

5. Mole Concept and Stoichiometry

Vapour Density and its relation to relative molecular mass:

• Molecular mass = 2×vapour density (formal proof not required)
• Deduction of simple (empirical) and molecular formula from:
  (a) the percentage composition of a compound.
  (b) the masses of combining elements.

6. Electrolysis

(i) Electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
Definitions and examples.

(ii) Substances containing molecules only, ions only, both molecules and ions.

• Substances containing molecules only ions only, both molecules and ions.
• Examples; relating their composition with their behaviour as strong and weak electrolytes as well as non-electrolytes.

(iii) Definition and explanation of electrolysis, electrolyte, electrode, anode, cathode, anion, cation, oxidation and reduction (on the basis of loss and gain of electrons).

(iv) An elementary study of the migration of ions, with reference to the factors influencing selective discharge of ions (reference should be made to the activity series as indicating the tendency of metals, e.g. Na, Mg, Fe, Cu, to form ions) illustrated by the electrolysis of:

• Molten lead bromide
• acidified water with platinum electrodes
• Aqueous copper (II) sulphate with copper electrodes; electron transfer at the electrodes.

The above electrolytic processes can be studied in terms of electrolyte used, electrodes used, ionization reaction, anode reaction, cathode reaction, use of selective discharge theory, wherever applicable.

(v) Applications of electrolysis:

• Electroplating with nickel and silver, choice of electrolyte for electroplating.
• Electro refining of copper;

Reasons and conditions for electroplating; names of the electrolytes and the electrodes used should be given. Equations for the reactions at the electrodes should be given for electroplating, refining of copper.

7. Metallurgy

(i) Occurrence of metals in nature:

• Mineral and ore – Meaning only.
• Common ores of iron, aluminium and zinc.

(ii) Extraction of Aluminium.

(a) Chemical method for purifying bauxite by using NaOH – Baeyer’s Process.

(b) Electrolytic extraction – Hall Heroult’s process:
Structure of electrolytic cell – the various components as part of the electrolyte, electrodes and electrode reactions.
Description of the changes occurring, purpose of the substances used and the main reactions with their equations.

(iii) Alloys – composition and uses. Stainless steel, duralumin, brass, bronze, fuse metal / solder.

8. Study of Compounds

A. Hydrogen Chloride

Hydrogen chloride: preparation of hydrogen chloride from sodium chloride; refer to the density and solubility of hydrogen chloride (fountain experiment); reaction with ammonia; acidic properties of its solution.

• Preparation of hydrogen chloride from sodium chloride; the laboratory method of preparation can be learnt in terms of reactants, product, condition, equation, diagram or setting of the apparatus, procedure, observation, precaution, collection of the gas and identification.
• Simple experiment to show the density of the gas (Hydrogen Chloride) –heavier than air.
• Solubility of hydrogen chloride (fountain experiment); setting of the apparatus, procedure, observation, inference.
• Method of preparation of hydrochloric acid by dissolving the gas in water- the special arrangement and the mechanism by which the back suction is avoided should be learnt.
• Reaction with ammonia
• Acidic properties of its solution – reaction with metals, their oxides, hydroxides and carbonates to give their chlorides; decomposition of carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, sulphides, sulphites.
• Precipitation reactions with silver nitrate solution and lead nitrate solution.

B. Ammonia

Ammonia: its laboratory preparation from ammonium chloride and collection; ammonia from nitrides like Mg3N2 and AlN and ammonium salts. Manufacture by Haber’s Process; density and solubility of ammonia (fountain experiment); aqueous solution of ammonia; its reactions with hydrogen chloride and with hot copper (II) oxide and chlorine; the burning of ammonia in oxygen; uses of ammonia.

• Laboratory preparation from ammonium chloride and collection; (the preparation to be studied in terms of, setting of the apparatus and diagram, procedure, observation, collection and identification)

The reactions to be studied in terms of reactants, products, conditions and equations.

• Manufacture by Haber’s Process.
• Density and solubility of ammonia (fountain experiment).
• The burning of ammonia in oxygen.
• The catalytic oxidation of ammonia (with conditions and reaction)
• Its reactions with hydrogen chloride and with hot copper (II) oxide and chlorine (both chlorine in excess and ammonia in excess).

All these reactions may be studied in terms of reactants, products, conditions, equations and observations.

• Aqueous solution of ammonia – reaction with sulphuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and solutions of iron(III) chloride, iron(II) sulphate, lead nitrate, zinc nitrate and copper sulphate.

C. Nitric Acid

Nitric Acid: one laboratory method of preparation of nitric acid from potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate. Large scale preparation. Nitric acid as an oxidizing agent.

• Laboratory preparation of nitric acid from potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate; the laboratory method to be studied in terms of reactants, products, conditions, equations, setting up of apparatus, diagram, precautions, collection and identification.
• Manufacture of Nitric acid by Ostwald’s process (Only equations with conditions where applicable).
• As an oxidising agent: its reaction with copper, carbon, sulphur.

D. Sulphuric Acid

Large scale preparation, its behaviour as an acid when dilute, as an oxidizing agent when concentrated – oxidation of carbon and sulphur; as a dehydrating agent – dehydration of sugar and copper (II) sulphate crystals; its non-volatile nature.

• Manufacture by Contact Process Equations with conditions where applicable).
• Its behaviour as an acid when dilute – reaction with metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate, metal bicarbonate, metal sulphite, metal sulphide.
• Concentrated sulphuric acid as an oxidizing agent – the oxidation of carbon and sulphur.
• Concentrated sulphuric acid as a dehydrating agent- (a) the dehydration of sugar (b) Copper (II) sulphate crystals.
• Non-volatile nature of sulphuric acid – reaction with sodium or potassium chloride and sodium or potassium nitrate.
• Identification and Tests for both dilute and concentrated sulphuric acid.

9. Organic Chemistry

(i) Introduction to Organic compounds.

• Unique nature of Carbon atom – tetra valency, catenation.
• Formation of single, double and triple bonds, straight chain, branched chain, cyclic compounds (only benzene).

(ii) Structure and Isomerism.

• Structure of compounds with single, double and triple bonds.
• Structural formulae of hydrocarbons. Structural formula must be given for: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes up to 5 carbon atoms.
• Isomerism – structural (chain, position)

(iii) Homologous series – characteristics with examples.

Alkane, alkene, alkyne series and their gradation in properties and the relationship with the molecular mass or molecular formula.

(iv) Simple nomenclature.

Simple nomenclature – of the hydrocarbons with simple functional groups – (double bond, triple bond, alcoholic, aldehydic, carboxylic group) longest chain rule and smallest number for functional groups rule – trivial and IUPAC names (compounds with only one functional group)

(v) Hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes.

• Alkanes – general formula; methane (greenhouse gas) and ethane – methods of preparation from sodium ethanoate (sodium acetate), sodium propanoate (sodium propionate), from iodomethane (methyl iodide) and bromoethane (ethyl bromide). Complete combustion of methane and ethane, reaction of methane and ethane with chlorine through substitution.
• Alkenes – (unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double bond); ethene as an example. Methods of preparation of ethene by dehydro halogenation reaction and dehydration reactions.
• Alkynes -(unsaturated hydrocarbons with a triple bond); ethyne as an example of alkyne; Methods of preparation from calcium carbide and 1,2 dibromoethane ethylene dibromide).

Only main properties, particularly addition products with hydrogen and halogen namely Cl2, Br2 and I2 pertaining to alkenes and alkynes.

Students should start their exam preparation by going through the ICSE Class 10 Syllabus of Chemistry which provides all the necessary information. It is structured in such a way that students can make it out on which topic to emphasise more by going through it. They can also access the ICSE Class 10 Syllabus for all the subjects and plan their studies accordingly ahead of exams.

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