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NEB Grade 11 & 12 New Syllabus: Chemistry
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NEB Grade 11 & 12 Chemistry Syllabus — Complete Overview

Chemistry is one of the optional subjects available to Science stream students under the National Examination Board (NEB), Nepal, and forms a core requirement for medicine, pharmacy, engineering, biotechnology, and environmental science careers. The curriculum, developed by the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, spans Grade 11 and Grade 12 and covers physical, inorganic, organic, and applied chemistry in progressively greater depth.

This page provides a complete, chapter-accurate breakdown of the NEB Chemistry syllabus for both grades, including exam structure and preparation strategy.

Subject Information at a Glance

  • Subject Name: Chemistry (Optional, Science Stream)
  • Subject Code: 301 (Grade 11, as per official NEB notices)
  • Subject Type: Optional (Science faculty)
  • Developed by: Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), Government of Nepal
  • Curriculum Framework: Secondary Education Curriculum 2076, periodically revised (current version: CDC 2082)
  • Total Chapters: 17 (Grade 11)
  • Teaching Hours: Approximately 128 hours per grade
  • Total Full Marks: 75 (Theory) + 25 (Practical/Internal) = 100, per grade

NEB Grade 11 Chemistry — Chapter List by Section

Grade 11 Chemistry covers 17 chapters across four sections, totaling approximately 128 teaching hours.

Section A: General and Physical Chemistry — Chapters 1–8 (48 teaching hours)

  • Chapter 1: Foundation and Fundamentals
  • Chapter 2: Stoichiometry
  • Chapter 3: Atomic Structure
  • Chapter 4: Classification of Elements and Periodic Table
  • Chapter 5: Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Molecules
  • Chapter 6: Oxidation and Reduction
  • Chapter 7: States of Matter
  • Chapter 8: Chemical Equilibrium

Section B: Inorganic Chemistry — Chapters 9–11 (35 teaching hours)

  • Chapter 9: Chemistry of Non-metals (the largest chapter, covering hydrogen, oxygen, ozone, nitrogen, halogens, carbon, phosphorus, and sulphur)
  • Chapter 10: Chemistry of Metals (metallurgical principles, alkali and alkaline earth metals)
  • Chapter 11: Bio-inorganic Chemistry

Section C: Organic Chemistry — Chapters 12–15 (30 teaching hours)

  • Chapter 12: Basic Concept of Organic Chemistry
  • Chapter 13: Fundamental Principles of Organic Chemistry (nomenclature, isomerism, reaction mechanisms)
  • Chapter 14: Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes)
  • Chapter 15: Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Section D: Applied Chemistry — Chapters 16–17

  • Chapter 16: Fundamentals of Applied Chemistry
  • Chapter 17: Modern Chemical Manufactures (Solvay process, Ostwald’s process, Contact process, Haber’s process, urea production)

NEB Grade 12 Chemistry — Topics by Unit

Grade 12 Chemistry builds substantially on Grade 11 and is organized into four units: Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Applied Chemistry.

Physical Chemistry (largest unit)

This unit is the most formula-heavy section of Grade 12 Chemistry and is consistently tested in board exams. Topics include:

  • Volumetric Analysis and Concentration of Solutions (molarity, normality, molality, equivalent weight)
  • Titration (acid-base, redox, precipitation, and complexometric titration; indicators and endpoints)
  • Gravimetric Analysis
  • Concept of Acid and Base (Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis theories)
  • Ionization and Ostwald’s Dilution Law
  • Solubility Product (Ksp) and Buffer Solutions
  • Thermodynamics, Chemical Kinetics, and Electrochemistry

Inorganic Chemistry

This unit focuses on transition metals and heavy metals, commonly tested through short-answer and diagram-based questions:

  • Transition Metals — general properties (variable oxidation states, coloured compounds, catalytic activity, complex formation, paramagnetism)
  • Copper (Cu)
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Mercury (Hg)
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Silver (Ag)

Organic Chemistry (largest section in terms of content volume)

Organic conversion questions are heavily tested in every NEB board exam. Chapters include:

  • Haloalkanes
  • Haloarenes
  • Alcohols
  • Phenol
  • Ethers
  • Aldehydes and Ketones
  • Carboxylic Acid and its Derivatives
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Amines and Aniline
  • Organometallic Compounds

Applied Chemistry

  • Service to Mankind
  • Cement
  • Paper and Pulp
  • Nuclear Chemistry (radioactive decay law, half-life, mass-energy equivalence)

NEB Chemistry Exam Structure

  • Theory Examination: 75 marks (3-hour written exam conducted by NEB)
  • Practical/Internal Evaluation: 25 marks (conducted by the school throughout the year)
  • Practical exams cover titration experiments, qualitative salt analysis, detection of elements in organic compounds (Lassaigne’s test), and gas preparation
  • NEB does not publish an official chapter-wise marks distribution for either grade; the teaching-hour grid published by CDC is explicitly for time distribution only, not marks allocation

For Grade 12, based on consistent patterns in recent board papers, Volumetric Analysis and Titration calculations, Organic Chemistry conversion questions, Acid-Base and pH calculations, and Solubility Product together typically account for 40–50% of total theory marks.

Difference Between Grade 11 and Grade 12 Chemistry

Grade 11 Chemistry builds the foundational framework: atomic structure, periodic trends, chemical bonding, gas laws, basic equilibrium, descriptive inorganic chemistry of non-metals and metals, and an introduction to organic chemistry including hydrocarbons. Grade 12 Chemistry assumes this foundation and moves into quantitative analytical chemistry (volumetric and gravimetric analysis), acid-base equilibrium with pH and buffer calculations, transition metal chemistry, a much broader range of organic functional groups and named reactions, and nuclear chemistry. Numerically, Grade 12 places significantly more weight on calculation-based questions across molarity, normality, pH, Ksp, and radioactive decay.

Tips to Score High in NEB Chemistry Examination

  • Master numerical problems systematically: In Grade 11, prioritize Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure, Redox/Electrolysis (Faraday’s laws), and Gas Laws. In Grade 12, prioritize Volumetric Analysis, Titration, pH calculations, and Solubility Product — these carry the highest combined marks.
  • Memorize reactions using reaction cards: Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry both require memorizing numerous reactions. Create cards noting reactants, conditions, products, and special observations like colour changes or gas evolution.
  • Practice organic conversion questions specifically: NEB board exams consistently ask 5–10 mark conversion questions, such as Benzene → Aniline → Chlorobenzene or Ethanol → Acetic Acid → Acetaldehyde. Practicing these as multi-step chains, not isolated reactions, is the most effective preparation.
  • Practice diagram-based questions: Apparatus diagrams (Kipp’s apparatus, Down’s cell) and industrial process flow-sheets (Contact, Haber, Solvay, Ostwald processes) appear regularly and are often graded on diagram accuracy alone.
  • Use the interconversion formula for concentration units: Normality = Molarity × n-factor is one of the most frequently tested relationships across both grades’ numerical sections.
  • Don’t neglect practical preparation: Titration technique, qualitative salt analysis, and Lassaigne’s test for organic compounds are tested directly in the practical exam and reinforce theory understanding.
  • Review the last 5 years of NEB question papers: This reveals which named reactions, derivations, and numerical types repeat most often.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many chapters are there in NEB Chemistry for Grade 11?

Grade 11 Chemistry has 17 chapters across four sections: General and Physical Chemistry (8 chapters), Inorganic Chemistry (3 chapters), Organic Chemistry (4 chapters), and Applied Chemistry (2 chapters).

What topics does NEB Grade 12 Chemistry cover?

Grade 12 Chemistry covers four units: Physical Chemistry (volumetric analysis, titration, gravimetric analysis, acid-base theory, ionization, solubility product, thermodynamics, kinetics, and electrochemistry), Inorganic Chemistry (transition metals and heavy metals including copper, zinc, mercury, iron, and silver), Organic Chemistry (haloalkanes through organometallic compounds), and Applied Chemistry (cement, paper and pulp, and nuclear chemistry).

Does NEB publish official chapter-wise marks distribution for Chemistry?

No. The official CDC syllabus document explicitly states that teaching-hour grids are for distribution purposes only, not marks allocation. Students should prepare across all chapters proportional to teaching hours rather than relying on unofficial “important chapters” claims alone.

Which Chemistry topics are most important for the board exam?

Based on consistent patterns in recent board papers, Volumetric Analysis and Titration calculations, Organic Chemistry conversion questions, Acid-Base and pH calculations, and Solubility Product typically carry the highest combined weight in Grade 12. In Grade 11, Chemistry of Non-metals (the largest chapter by teaching hours), Chemical Bonding, Stoichiometry, Atomic Structure, and States of Matter deserve the most attention.

What is the difference between molarity and normality?

Molarity (M) is the number of moles of solute per litre of solution. Normality (N) is the number of gram equivalents of solute per litre of solution. They are related by the formula Normality = Molarity × n-factor, where the n-factor is the basicity for acids and the acidity for bases.

Where can I find Chemistry notes and important questions for Grade 11 and 12?

You can find detailed Chemistry study resources, chapter overviews, and important questions on nneducation.com. Browse our Chemistry courses from the Courses section for in-depth, exam-focused content.

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