Chemistry Class 12th

Last Updated : 27 Mar, 2026

Chemistry is made up of different branches that focus on the study of matter, its properties, composition, structure, and the changes it undergoes. In Class 12, chemistry is broadly divided into three main parts—physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry—each dealing with different aspects of chemical science.

Topics in Chemistry

Physical chemistry includes topics like solid state, solutions, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, and surface chemistry. These chapters mainly involve numerical problems, formulas, graphs, and laws that explain how chemical processes occur and at what rate.

Inorganic Chemistry covers p-block elements, d- and f-block elements, and coordination compounds. It focuses on the properties of elements, periodic trends, chemical bonding, structures, and important reactions.

Organic chemistry deals with carbon-containing compounds such as haloalkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, amines, biomolecules, and polymers.

Solution

A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances. The substance present in a larger amount is called the solvent. The substance present in a smaller amount is called the solute.

Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the relationship between chemical reactions and electrical energy. It studies how chemical energy is converted into electrical energy in galvanic (voltaic) cells and how electrical energy is used to carry out non-spontaneous reactions in electrolytic cells.

Chemical Kinetics

Chemical kinetics is the branch of chemistry that studies the rate of chemical reactions and the factors that affect it. It helps us understand how fast a reaction occurs and what conditions can increase or decrease its speed.

The d and F Block Elements

The d- and f-block elements are those in which the last electron enters the d- or f-orbital of the atom.

Coordination Compounds

A coordination compound is one in which a central metal atom or ion is surrounded by a number of molecules or ions called ligands. These ligands donate a pair of electrons to the metal to form coordinate bonds.

Haloalkanes and Haloarenes

Haloalkanes and haloarenes are organic compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms of an alkane or arene are replaced by halogen atoms (F, Cl, Br, I).

Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers

Alcohols, phenols, and ethers are organic compounds that contain an oxygen atom in their structure, but they differ in the way the oxygen is attached. Alcohols contain a hydroxyl (–OH) group attached to a saturated carbon atom (sp³). Ketones contain a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to two carbon atoms. Ethers have an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups.

Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Aldehydes, ketones, and ethers are organic compounds that contain oxygen in different forms. They contain a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to at least one hydrogen atom. They contain a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to two carbon atoms.

Amines

Amines are organic compounds derived from ammonia (NH₃) in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. They contain a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons, which makes them basic in nature. Amines are classified as primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) depending on the number of carbon groups attached to the nitrogen atom.

Biomolecules

Biomolecules are complex organic molecules that are essential for the structure and functioning of living organisms. They mainly include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and vitamins.

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