GATE Chemistry Syllabus 2023
To get good marks on the Chemistry exam, it is strongly advised that you prepare in accordance with the syllabus. The GATE Chemistry syllabus 2023 will include questions on topics including kinetics, transition elements, radioactivity, lanthanides and actinides, stereochemistry, pericyclic reactions, photochemistry, etc. in addition to general aptitude questions. The GATE Chemistry syllabus is divided into three major subjects:
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
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GATE Chemistry Syllabus 2023 PDF
Candidates can download the GATE Chemistry Syllabus 2023 PDF which includes a comprehensive description of the important topics. To effectively study for the exam, it is advisable that candidates retain the GATE Chemistry Syllabus PDF saved on their devices and even kept a paper copy of the same.
Download GATE Chemistry Syllabus 2023 PDF
The detailed topic-wise GATE Chemistry syllabus is as follows:
Physical Chemistry Syllabus
The Physical Chemistry section of the GATE Chemistry syllabus is the most difficult and important section of the exam. The topics included in the physical chemistry section are discussed below.
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Group Theory
Point groups and character tables, Hybrid orbital construction using symmetry aspects, Internal coordinates and vibrational modes, Symmetry elements and operations, and Symmetry adapted a linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO-MO).
Equilibrium
Thermochemistry, Thermodynamics laws, functions and their relationships, Mixing Thermodynamics, Statistical thermodynamics, Raoult’s Law and Henry’s Law, Clausius- Clapeyron equation, Chemical potential, Relationship between Electrode potential & thermodynamic quantities, Absolute entropy, Phase rule, One component (CO2, H2O, S) and two-component systems (liquid-vapor, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid), Azeotropes & eutectics, Partial molar quantities, Ideal and Non-ideal solutions, Equilibrium constant dependence on pressure & temperature, Ionic mobility & conductivity, Standard electrode potentials and electrochemical cells, and Fugacity, activity & activity coefficients.
Structure
Quantum mechanics postulates, Operators, Molecular structure & Chemical bonding, Valence bond theory, LCAO-MO theory application to H2+, H2, Hydrogen & hydrogen-like atoms, Multi-electron atoms, MOT theory of homonuclear and heteronuclear diatomic molecules, Dirac bra-ket notation, Approximation Methods (Variation method and secular determinants, First-order perturbation techniques), Hermite polynomials, Atomic units, Slater determinants, Schrödinger’s time-dependent & independent equations, Born interpretation, Pauli exclusion principle, Rotational motion (angular momentum operators, rigid rotor), Hybrid orbitals.
Spectroscopy
Diatomic and polyatomic molecular vibrational, Raman, rotational, and electronic spectroscopy, coefficients of Einstein, Atomic spectroscopy, Line broadening, Term symbols and spectral details, Russell-Saunders coupling, Nuclear magnetic resonance principles, Origin of selection rules, Transition moment integral and molar extinction coefficient & oscillator strength relationship.
Kinetics
Theory of transition state, Fast reaction kinetics (flow methods & relaxation methods), Photochemical & photophysical processes kinetics, Polymerization Kinetics, Effects of kinetic isotopes, Elementary, opposing, consecutive, and parallel reactions, Unimolecular reactions, Concepts of catalysis & enzyme catalysis, Diffusion controlled reactions, Complex reactions mechanisms, Approximation of steady-state, Potential energy surfaces and classical trajectories, Saddle points concept.
Surfaces and Interfaces
Langmuir, Freundlich and BET isotherms, Self-assembly, Surface tension, viscosity, and catalysis (mechanism of Langmuir-Hinshelwood), Colloids, micelles, and macromolecules’ physical chemistry, Physisorption & Chemisorption.
Organic Chemistry Syllabus
The Organic Chemistry section of the GATE Chemistry syllabus deals with various structures, reactions, and compositions of compounds. The topics included in the organic chemistry section are as follows.
Organic Synthesis
Atom economy and Green Chemistry, Protection and deprotection of functional groups, Concepts of multistep synthesis, Selectivity in organic synthesis (chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity), Concepts of asymmetric synthesis, Uses of Li, Zn, Cu, B, Mg, Sn, P, Si, and S based reagents in organic synthesis, Synthesis, reactions, mechanisms, and selectivity, Carbon-carbon bond formation through coupling reactions (Hiyama, McMurry, Tsuji-Trost, Kumada, Sonogoshira, Suzuki, Negishi, Stille, olefin metathesis, and Heck), Carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions through enolates (including boron enolates), enamines, and silyl enol ethers.
Reaction Mechanism
Basic mechanistic concepts, Nucleo- & electrophilic substitution reactions, Linear free-energy relationship, Reactive intermediates, In addition, reactions to carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom (N and O) multiple bonds, Elimination reactions, Methods to determine reaction mechanisms with the help of kinetics, products identification, intermediates & isotopic labeling, and Molecular rearrangements.
Stereochemistry
Homo-, enantio- and diastereotopic atoms, faces & groups, Geometrical & optical isomerism, Acyclic and cyclic compounds’ conformational analysis, Stereoselective and stereospecific synthesis, Chirality & symmetry of organic molecules about chiral centres & absolute configurations, Configurational and conformational effects, atropisomerism, & neighboring group participation on reactivity and selectivity or specificity.
Biomolecules
Chemical structural features of lipids, steroids, proteins, carotenoids, nucleic acids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, Mono-saccharides & di-saccharides (structure, reaction, & properties), Chemical synthesis and structure of peptides, and Physicochemical properties of amino acids.
Pericyclic Reactions & Photochemistry
Norrish type-I and II cleavage reaction, Photochemistry of alkenes, arenes, and carbonyl compounds, Electrocyclic, cycloaddition & sigmatropic reactions, Orbital correlations (FMO & PMO treatments, Woodward-Hoffmann rule), Di-π-methane rearrangement, Photooxidation & photoreduction, and Barton-McCombie reaction.
Heterocyclic Compounds
Furan, quinoline, pyridine, thiophene, isoquinoline, indole, and pyrrole (Structure, preparation, properties, and reactions).
Experimental Techniques in Organic Chemistry
Chromatographic techniques application (thin-layer, column, HPLC & GC), IR, UV-visible, NMR & Mass spectrometry application in determining the structure of organic molecules, and Polarimetry.
Inorganic Chemistry Syllabus
The creation of chemical compounds without a carbon-hydrogen link, their reactions, and their characteristics are all studied in inorganic chemistry. The Inorganic Chemistry section in the GATE Chemistry syllabus includes the following topics.
| Subjects | GATE Chemistry Syllabus |
Main Group Elements | Industrial synthesis of main group elements compounds, Shapes & Reactivity of oxides, sulfides, oxoacids, hydrides, nitrides, halides, boron nitride, phosphazenes, boranes, silicones, borazines, carboranes, and silicates, Noble gases, pseudo halogens, and interhalogen compounds chemistry, Acid-base concepts and principles, Sulphur, Carbon, and phosphorus allotropes. |
Transition Elements | Energy level diagrams in CFSE, CFT, various crystal fields, and Jahn-Teller distortion, Coordination chemistry (structure & isomerism), Transition metal complexes and their magnetic properties, Bonding theories (VBT, CFT, & MOT), Ray-Dutt & Bailar twists, Electronic spectra of transition metal complexes, Metal-metal multiple bonds, Reaction mechanisms (kinetic & thermodynamic stability, substitution & redox reactions). |
Lanthanides & Actinides | Recovery, spectra, periodic properties, & magnetic properties. |
Organometallics | Organometallic reaction types, fluxionality in complexes of organometallics, Metal-alkyl, metal-carbonyl, metal-olefin, and metal-carbene complexes and metallocene, 18-Electron rule, Heterogeneous catalysis - Ziegler-Natta polymerization, Fischer- Tropsch reaction, Homogeneous catalysis - hydroformylation, metathesis and olefin oxidation, hydrogenation, and acetic acid synthesis. |
Solids | Bragg’s law, Band theory, Crystal systems and lattices, Crystal packing, Ionic crystals, Miller planes, Crystal defects, Spinels, metals, and semiconductors, Structures of AX, AX2, ABX3 type compounds. |
Instrumental Methods of Analysis | Electro- and thermoanalytical methods, UV-visible, X-ray crystallography, Fluorescence and FTIR spectrophotometry, Chromatography including GC and HPLC, NMR and ESR, atomic absorption, and Mössbauer (Fe and Sn) spectroscopy, Mass spectrometry. |
Bioinorganic Chemistry | Oxygen binding, Ion (Na+ and K+) transport, Nitrogen fixation, Electron transfer reactions, Transport and utilization, and Metalloenzymes containing Mg, Mo, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn. |
Radioactivity | Radioactivity detection, fission & fusion processes, the half-life of radioactive elements and Decay processes. |
GATE Chemistry Exam Pattern
The maximum number of papers a GATE candidate can take is two. However, they must come from the list of permitted combination options, which is posted on the official website. The combination of Chemical Engineering (CH) and Life Sciences (XL) is permitted for Chemistry (CY) papers.
- The GATE exam is conducted using a computer-based test (CBT).
- Candidates get three hours to complete the 65 questions in the GATE Chemistry Exam Pattern.
- The exam consists of two different types of questions: MCQs and NAT.
- The GATE Chemistry (CY) paper is graded for a total of 100 marks, with general aptitude receiving 15 marks and chemistry receiving 85 marks.
The GATE Chemistry exam pattern is discussed in the table below.
| Sections | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| General Aptitude | 10 | 15 | 3 Hours |
| Chemistry | 55 | 85 | |
| Total | 65 | 100 |
GATE Chemistry Syllabus Preparation Tips
The GATE Chemistry syllabus is somewhat vast. Thus, to assist a student, we have provided GATE preparation tips to cover the entire syllabus.
- Refer to the GATE Chemistry syllabus before starting the preparation for the exam.
- Practice previous year's question papers and sample papers to get an idea about the type of questions in the exam.
- Revise the topics regularly to boost confidence and reduce tension during exams.
- Refer to the best books available.
GATE Chemistry Syllabus Important Topics
The GATE Chemistry syllabus is divided into Organic, Inorganic, and Physical chemistry. Some of the important topics included in the GATE Chemistry syllabus are given below.
- Thermodynamics
- Reaction Mechanism
- Chemical Kinetics
- Organometallics
- Main Group Elements
- Stereochemistry
- Spectroscopy
| Other Important GATE Topics | |
| GATE Physics Syllabus | GATE Mechanical Syllabus |
| GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus | GATE Electrical Engineering Syllabus |
| GATE CSE Syllabus | GATE ECE Syllabus |
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