The CBSE Class 11th Chemistry Syllabus 2025-26 is very important for students who want to build a strong base in science. This syllabus includes important topics like atoms, chemical bonding, acids and bases, and organic chemistry.

It is designed to help students understand how things work in everyday life through the science of chemistry. It also gets you ready for Class 12 and exams like NEET and JEE. With both theory and practical work, the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry NCERT Syllabus 2025-26 helps you think better, ask questions, and learn in a fun and useful way.

CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus Overview

Total Marks: 100 Marks

  • Theory Paper: 70 Marks

  • Practical: 30 Marks

Unit 1: Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry(7 Marks)

General Introduction: Importance and scope of Chemistry, Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton's atomic theory: concept of elements, atoms and molecules, atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition, empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations based on stoichiometry. 

Unit 2: Structure of Atom (9 Marks)

Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron, atomic number, isotopes and isobars. Thomson's model and its limitations. Rutherford's model and its limitations, Bohr's model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and light, de Broglie's relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals, quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals - Aufbau principle, Pauli's exclusion principle and Hund's rule, electronic configuration of atoms, stability of half-filled and completely filled orbitals. 

Unit 3: Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties (6 Marks)

Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, electronegativity, valiancy, Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100. 

Unit 4: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure (7 Marks)

Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization, involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules (qualitative idea only), Hydrogen bond. 

Unit 5: Chemical Thermodynamics (9 Marks)

Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics -internal energy and enthalpy, heat capacity and specific heat, measurement of ∆U and ∆H, Hess's law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution. Second law of Thermodynamics (brief introduction), Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb's energy change for spontaneous and non- spontaneous processes, criteria for equilibrium, Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).   

Unit 6: Equilibrium (7 Marks)

Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium – Le Chatelier's principle, ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion effect (with illustrative examples). 

Unit 7: Redox Reactions (4 Marks)

Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications of redox reactions. 

Unit 8: Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques (11 Marks)

General introduction, methods of purification, qualitative and quantitative analysis, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds. Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance and hyper conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions. 

Unit 9: Hydrocarbons (10 Marks)

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons 

Alkanes: Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties, chemical reactions including free radical mechanism of halogenation, combustion and pyrolysis.

Alkenes: Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markovnikov's addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition. 

Alkynes: Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of - hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water. 

Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration, sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft's alkylation and acylation, directive influence of functional group in mono substituted benzene, carcinogenicity and toxicity.

Practicals

These are some experiments that you need to do in CBSE Class 11:                                                                                

 

  1. Basic Laboratory Techniques

  • Cutting glass tubes and rods

  • Bending glass tubes

  • Drawing out a glass jet

  • Boring corks

2. Characterization and Purification of Chemical Substances

  1. Determining melting and boiling points of organic compounds

  2. Crystallizing impure samples (e.g., Alum, Copper Sulphate, or Benzoic Acid) to purify them

3. Experiments Based on pH

  • Measuring pH of fruit juices and acid/base solutions

  • Comparing pH of strong vs. weak acids

  • Studying pH changes during titration and effect of common ions on weak acids/bases

4. Chemical Equilibrium

Demonstrates the dynamic nature of reversible reactions:

  • Observing equilibrium shifts in:

    • Fe³⁺ + SCN⁻ ↔ [Fe(SCN)]²⁺

    • [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺ + Cl⁻ ↔ [CoCl₄]²⁻ + H₂O

5. Quantitative Estimation

Teaches basic volumetric analysis:

  1. Using balances to measure mass

  2. Preparing standard solutions (Oxalic acid, Sodium carbonate)

  3. Titrating to determine strength of NaOH or HCl solutions

6. Qualitative Analysis

  1. Inorganic Salt Analysis: One cation and one anion from the prescribed list (e.g., Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻)

  2. Organic Element Detection: Testing organic compounds for Nitrogen, Sulphur, and Chlorine.

Why is Chemistry an Essential Subject For Class 11?

Let’s check out some fascinating reasons to choose chemistry as a subject.

  • Chemistry explains how things work. The subject helps you understand everyday things like how food cooks, how medicines work, why ice floats, or how soap cleans.

  • It builds a strong science foundation as it connects with Physics and Biology and is important for learning other sciences.

  • Chemistry makes learning fun with experiments. You get to do hands-on lab activities like testing pH, titration, and crystallization which make learning exciting.

  • It improves problem-solving skills. When you solve chemical equations and understand reactions, it boosts your logical thinking.

  • Chemistry is an important subject for career goals. If you want to become a doctor, engineer, scientist, or pharmacist, opting for chemistry is a must.

  • This subject also helps in competitive exams. Chemistry is a major part of exams like NEET, JEE, and CUET, so studying it now gives you an edge later.

  • Obviously, chemistry is useful in real life. No matter if you are using cleaning products or cosmetics, or even food to fertilizers, chemistry is involved in making everything around you.

  • It teaches you to think scientifically. It develops curiosity, observation, and a habit of asking "why" and "how" which are the traits of a true learner.

  • It helps you understand environmental issues. Topics like pollution, green chemistry, and chemical waste help you learn how to protect the planet.

  • Chemistry opens the door to many careers. Chemistry is useful for careers in medicine, biotechnology, chemical engineering, forensics, and more.

Therefore, the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus 2025-26 is a great starting point for anyone interested in science. It teaches important topics and gives hands-on experience through practicals.

This syllabus not only helps you score well in exams but also makes it easier to understand higher-level science in the future. Whether you want to become a doctor, engineer, or scientist, this syllabus gives you the right knowledge and skills. So, take it seriously, stay curious, and enjoy the process because the chemistry you learn now will help you in many ways later on.