CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2026-27: Marks & Units
CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Syllabus 2026-27 (subject code 043) carries a total of 100 marks, split into 70 marks for the theory paper and 30 marks for the practical exam. Verified against the official CBSE curriculum document on 2026-07-13, this page gives you the exact unit-wise marks, the exam pattern, and the formative-only topic clarification that most copy-paste pages miss.
You can cross-check every figure here against the official cbseacademic.nic.in portal where the board hosts the curriculum.
Course Structure: Theory Marks Distribution
The 70-mark theory paper is spread across ten units. The table below lists the exact marks for each unit as printed in the official CBSE curriculum document (NCERT ground, p. 8). Use these numbers to plan your revision priority.
| S. No. | Unit Title | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solutions | 7 |
| 2 | Electrochemistry | 9 |
| 3 | Chemical Kinetics | 7 |
| 4 | d- and f-Block Elements | 7 |
| 5 | Coordination Compounds | 7 |
| 6 | Haloalkanes and Haloarenes | 6 |
| 7 | Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers | 6 |
| 8 | Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | 8 |
| 9 | Amines | 6 |
| 10 | Biomolecules | 7 |
| Total | 70 | |
You can prioritise your revision if you group these ten units into the three classical branches of chemistry. Physical chemistry covers Units 1 to 3 and carries the highest combined weightage of 23 marks. Inorganic chemistry spans Units 4 and 5, adding up to 14 marks. Organic chemistry dominates the second half with Units 6 to 10, carrying the largest block of 33 marks.
This grouping matters because a student targeting a top score cannot afford to leave organic chemistry for the end. With 33 of the 70 theory marks locked into organic units, name reactions, functional group interconversions, and reaction mechanisms must be your strongest revision area.
Unit-wise Topics in the Theory Syllabus
The table below maps every unit to the exact subtopics listed in the official curriculum document (NCERT ground, pp. 8-9). Study these topic strings to know precisely what the board expects you to cover.
| Unit | Subtopics to Study | Branch |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Solutions | Types of solutions, expression of concentration, solubility, vapour pressure of liquid solutions, ideal and non-ideal solutions, colligative properties and determination of molar mass, abnormal molecular masses. | Physical |
| 2. Electrochemistry | Electrochemical cells, galvanic cells, Nernst equation, conductance of electrolytic solutions, electrolytic cells and electrolysis, batteries, fuel cells, corrosion. | |
| 3. Chemical Kinetics | Rate of a chemical reaction, factors influencing rate, integrated rate equations, temperature dependence of rate, collision theory of chemical reactions. | |
| 4. d- and f-Block Elements | Position in the periodic table, electronic configuration of d-block, general properties of transition elements, important compounds of transition elements, lanthanoids, actinoids, applications of d- and f-block elements. | Inorganic |
| 5. Coordination Compounds | Werner’s theory, important terms, nomenclature, isomerism, bonding in coordination compounds, bonding in metal carbonyls, importance and applications. | |
| 6. Haloalkanes and Haloarenes | Classification, nomenclature, nature of C–X bond, methods of preparation of haloalkanes, preparation of haloarenes, physical properties, chemical reactions, polyhalogen compounds. | Organic |
| 7. Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers | Classification, nomenclature, structures of functional groups, alcohols and phenols, commercially important alcohols, ethers. | |
| 8. Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Nomenclature and structure of carbonyl group, preparation of aldehydes and ketones, physical and chemical properties, uses; nomenclature and structure of carboxyl group, preparation of carboxylic acids, physical and chemical properties, uses. | |
| 9. Amines | Structure of amines, classification, nomenclature, preparation, physical properties, chemical reactions, preparation of diazonium salts, importance of diazonium salts in synthesis of aromatic compounds. | |
| 10. Biomolecules | Carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, nucleic acids, hormones. |
Notice that the Nernst equation in Unit 2 and the integrated rate equations in Unit 3 are the two most formula-heavy topics in the physical block. Likewise, the conversion sequence from diazonium salts in Unit 9 frequently ties into the functional group tests you perform in your practical exam.
Chapter-wise Study Material for Every Unit Above
Chapter-wise study material for every unit above:
| Ch. | Chapter | Study material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Objectives | Coming soon |
| 2 | Electrochemistry | Coming soon |
| 3 | Chemical Kinetics | Coming soon |
| 4 | The $d$- and $f$-Block Elements | Coming soon |
| 5 | Objectives | Coming soon |
| 1 | Objectives | Coming soon |
| 2 | Objectives | Coming soon |
| 3 | Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids | Coming soon |
| 9 | Objectives | Coming soon |
| 10 | Objectives | Coming soon |
For deeper insight into any specific unit, you can also browse our Class 12 Chemistry notes hub, which is organised by the same unit numbers. You can also access the complete directory of CBSE Class 12 notes or revisit the main notes portal for all classes.
Exam Pattern and Question Paper Design
The Class 12 Chemistry theory board exam runs for 3 hours and tests 70 marks. The question paper is designed around three cognitive domains, and the marks split across these domains tells you exactly how to prepare. The official document (NCERT ground, p. 15) fixes the typology as follows.
| S. No. | Domain | Marks | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Remembering and Understanding | 28 | 40% |
| 2 | Applying | 21 | 30% |
| 3 | Analysing, Evaluating and Creating | 21 | 30% |
The CBSE document also clarifies two structural rules for the paper:
- There is no overall choice in the question paper.
- However, 33% internal choices are provided in all sections.
- There is no chapter-wise weightage in the paper template, though care is taken to cover all chapters.
This 40-30-30 competency split changes your revision strategy. If you only memorise definitions and textbook statements, you cap yourself at 28 marks. The remaining 42 marks (60% of the paper) come from application and analysis questions. Because there is no chapter-wise weightage in the template, competency-based questions can emerge from any unit.
A student aiming for a high score must therefore study every single unit thoroughly, rather than gambling on a fewhigh-weight chapters.
Internal Assessment and Practical Scheme
The 30-mark practical component is held separately from the theory paper. The official CBSE curriculum document (NCERT ground, p. 10) breaks the 30 marks down into five evaluation heads.
| Evaluation Head | Marks |
|---|---|
| Volumetric Analysis | 08 |
| Salt Analysis | 08 |
| Content Based Experiment | 06 |
| Project Work | 04 |
| Class record and viva | 04 |
| Total | 30 |
The board prescribes micro-chemical methods wherever possible. The practical syllabus is grouped into the following categories (NCERT ground, pp. 10-11):
- Surface Chemistry: Preparation of lyophilic and lyophobic sols, dialysis, study of emulsifying agents.
- Chemical Kinetics: Effect of concentration and temperature on reaction rates, including clock reactions.
- Thermochemistry: Enthalpy of dissolution, neutralisation, or hydrogen bond formation.
- Electrochemistry: Variation of cell potential in a \( Zn/Zn^{2+}/Cu \) cell with concentration changes.
- Chromatography: Separation of pigments and inorganic cations by paper chromatography, calculating \( R_f \) values.
- Preparation of Inorganic Compounds: Ferrous ammonium sulphate, potash alum, or potassium ferric oxalate.
- Preparation of Organic Compounds: Acetanilide, di-benzal acetone, p-nitroacetanilide, or aniline yellow.
- Tests for Functional Groups: Unsaturation, alcoholic, phenolic, aldehydic, ketonic, carboxylic, and primary amino groups.
- Determination of Molarity of \( KMnO_4 \): Titration against oxalic acid or ferrous ammonium sulphate.
- Qualitative Analysis: Identification of one cation and one anion in a given salt.
A separate 30-mark evaluation scheme exists for visually challenged learners (NCERT ground, p. 12), since they are exempted from standard laboratory testing. Their marks distribution is:
- Identification and familiarity with apparatus: 05 marks
- Written test based on prescribed practicals: 10 marks
- Practical record: 05 marks
- Viva: 10 marks
Formative-Only Topics: What Is Included but Not in the 70 Marks
The official CBSE Chemistry curriculum document for 2026-27 includes a note at the end of the theory syllabus (NCERT ground, p. 9) regarding four specific topics. These topics are part of the syllabus, but they will be assessed only formatively.
The four formative-only topics are:
- Surface Chemistry
- General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements
- Polymers
- Chemistry in Everyday Life
What does “formative only” mean for you? The board states these topics are included to reinforce understanding without adding to summative assessments. This reduces academic stress while ensuring meaningful learning. Schools can integrate these topics with the existing chapters because they align well with the core units.
Crucially, these four topics will not appear in the 70-mark board theory paper. You should study them for your internal school assessments and project work, but you do not need to revise them for the final CBSE board exam.
This distinction is clearly written in the official document, yet most online syllabus pages omit it entirely or mistakenly list these topics as deleted. They are not deleted; they are simply assessed differently.
Deletions and Changes for 2026-27
The official CBSE Chemistry curriculum document for 2026-27 does not list any explicit deletions or reduced content for Class 12. There is no “rationalised syllabus” notification for this session.
The only structural change in this session is the inclusion of the four formative-only topics detailed above. Instead of completely removing Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, Polymers, and Chemistry in Everyday Life from the curriculum, the board shifted them to formative assessment.
This means the content is still taught, but it will not be tested in the final summative theory exam.
A verified “no deletions” statement is itself information that competitors do not publish. If you see a page claiming a “reduced syllabus” with deleted chapters for 2026-27, treat it with caution unless it links to the official CBSE notification.
Prescribed NCERT Textbooks for Class 12 Chemistry
The CBSE curriculum document names the following textbooks (NCERT ground, pp. 14-15). Ensure you study from these exact editions.
- Chemistry Part I Class XII, published by NCERT. Access the official textbook on the NCERT portal.
- Chemistry Part II Class XII, published by NCERT.
- Manual of Microscale Chemistry Laboratory Kit, published by NCERT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the marks distribution for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry theory paper 2026-27?
The 70-mark theory paper is split across ten units: Solutions (7 marks), Electrochemistry (9 marks), Chemical Kinetics (7 marks), d- and f-Block Elements (7 marks), Coordination Compounds (7 marks), Haloalkanes and Haloarenes (6 marks), Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers (6 marks), Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids (8 marks), Amines (6 marks), and Biomolecules (7 marks).
Which chapters are deleted from CBSE Class 12 Chemistry syllabus 2026-27?
The official CBSE curriculum document for 2026-27 does not explicitly delete any chapters. Four topics—Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, Polymers, and Chemistry in Everyday Life—have been shifted to formative-only assessment, meaning they will not appear in the summative 70-mark board theory paper but are still part of the curriculum.
What are the formative-only topics in the Chemistry syllabus and will they come in the board exam?
The formative-only topics are Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, Polymers, and Chemistry in Everyday Life. They will not appear in the 70-mark theory board exam; schools assess them internally to reinforce understanding and reduce academic stress.
How many marks is the Chemistry practical exam and what experiments are included?
The Chemistry practical exam carries 30 marks, divided into Volumetric Analysis (08), Salt Analysis (08), Content Based Experiment (06), Project Work (04), and Class record plus viva (04). Experiments cover surface chemistry, chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, electrochemistry, chromatography, compound preparation, functional group tests, titrations, and qualitative salt analysis.
Is there chapter-wise weightage in the Class 12 Chemistry board question paper?
No, the official question paper design states there is no chapter-wise weightage provided in the template, though care is taken to cover all chapters. The paper tests 28 marks for remembering and understanding, 21 marks for applying, and 21 marks for analysing, evaluating, and creating, with 33% internal choices in all sections.
What is the subject code for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry?
The official subject code for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry is 043, as listed in the senior secondary curriculum document on cbseacademic.nic.in.
Reference: CBSE Class 12 Chemistry curriculum document, session 2026-27 as stated on cbseacademic.nic.in.