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Updated By Lipi on 11 Aug, 2025 23:34
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Predict RankIIT Guwahati has released the GATE 2026 syllabus for Chemistry. The GATE 2026 CY syllabus features all the important topics that will be covered in the GATE 2026 exam. The GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus includes topics such as Molecular Structure and Bonding, Spectroscopy, Organometallics, Heterocyclic Compounds, etc. You can read this page to know important topics from the GATE chemistry syllabus 2026.
Understanding the full syllabus is important for students to prepare well and do their best in the GATE 2026 exam. As per the GATE 2026 exam pattern, the paper gives 85% weightage to core Chemistry subjects and 15% weightage to the General Aptitude section. There will be a total of 65 questions in the GATE exam for chemistry, consisting of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions. Check the GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus in more detail.
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Attempt nowThe GATE Chemistry 2026 syllabus is categorized into Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry sections, which are further subdivided into various chapters and topics. You can check the section-wise topics from the GATE 2026 CY syllabus below:-
Section | Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|---|
Physical Chemistry | Structure | Quantum mechanics postulates, Schrödinger equations, Born interpretation, Dirac bra-ket notation, Particle in a box, Harmonic oscillator, Rotational motion, Hydrogen and hydrogen-like atoms, Multi-electron atoms, Approximation Methods, Atomic units. |
Molecular Structure and Bonding | Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Valence bond theory, LCAO-MO theory, Hybrid orbitals, LCAO-MO theory applications, Orbital theory (MOT), Hückel approximation. | |
Group Theory | Symmetry elements, Point groups, Character tables, Vibrational modes, Hybrid orbitals. | |
Spectroscopy | Atomic spectroscopy, Rotational, vibrational, electronic, Raman spectroscopy, Line broadening, NMR, Chemical shift, Nuclear coupling. | |
Equilibrium | Laws of thermodynamics, Thermochemistry, Thermodynamic functions, Gibbs-Helmholtz relations, Chemical equilibria, Ionic mobility, Debye-Hückel law, Nernst Equation, Phase rule, Clausius-Clapeyron equation, Statistical thermodynamics, Phase diagrams. | |
Kinetics | Reaction types, Steady-state approximation, Transition state theory, Catalysis, Kinetics of photochemical processes, Fast reaction kinetics. | |
Surfaces and Interfaces | Adsorption, Surface catalysis, Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, Surface tension, Colloids, Micelles. | |
Inorganic Chemistry | Main Group Elements | Hydrides, Halides, Oxides, Oxoacids, Boranes, Silicones, Boron nitride, Borazines, Phosphazenes, Allotropes of carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, Acid-base concepts, Noble gasses. |
Transition Elements | Coordination chemistry, Crystal field theory, Electronic spectra, Magnetic properties, Reaction mechanisms, Substitution and redox reactions, Metal-metal bonds. | |
Lanthanides and Actinides | Recovery methods, Periodic properties, Spectra, Magnetic properties. | |
Organometallics | 18-Electron rule, Metal complexes, Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. | |
Radioactivity | Detection of radioactivity, Decay processes, Fission, Fusion. | |
Bioinorganic Chemistry | Ion transport, Oxygen binding, Metalloenzymes, Electron transfer, Nitrogen fixation. | |
Solids | Crystal systems, Crystal defects, Bragg’s law, Ionic crystals, Structures of compounds, Band theory, Metals and semiconductors. | |
Instrumental Methods of Analysis | UV-visible, FTIR, NMR, Mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, Chromatography, Electroanalytical methods. | |
Organic Chemistry | Stereochemistry | Chirality, Symmetry, Stereoisomers, Stereoselective synthesis, Conformational analysis, Geometrical and optical isomerism, Atropisomerism. |
Reaction Mechanisms | Kinetic vs. thermodynamic control, Substitution reactions, Addition reactions, Elimination reactions, Reactive intermediates (carbocations, carbanions, radicals, etc.). | |
Organic Synthesis | Synthesis and reactions of various organic compounds, Use of reagents, Carbon-carbon bond formation, Concepts of multistep synthesis, Selectivity in synthesis, Functional group protection, Asymmetric synthesis, Bond forming reactions, Stereoselective additions. | |
Pericyclic Reactions and Photochemistry | Electrocyclic, Cycloaddition, Sigmatropic reactions, Orbital correlations, Photochemistry of alkenes, arenes, and carbonyl compounds, Photooxidation, Photoreduction, Norrish reactions. | |
Heterocyclic Compounds | Structure, Preparation, Properties, and Reactions of furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, indole, quinoline, and isoquinoline. | |
Biomolecules | Structure, Properties, and Reactions of sugars, amino acids, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, steroids, terpenoids, carotenoids, and alkaloids. | |
Experimental Techniques | Optical rotation, Chromatographic techniques (TLC, column, HPLC, GC), Applications of UV-visible, IR, NMR, Mass spectrometry in structural determination of organic molecules. |
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The General Aptitude part, which is common to all GATE papers, deals with topics based on Verbal ability, grammar and language, Analytics skills, reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, etc. 10 questions in total are asked from this section. Therefore, you are advised not to ignore this part and cover the topics as per the GATE Chemistry 2026 General Aptitude syllabus listed here:-
Category | Topics |
|---|---|
Verbal Aptitude | Basic Vocabulary: Words, idioms, phrases in context, reading and comprehension, narrative sequencing |
Basic English Grammar: Tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, other parts of speech | |
Quantitative Aptitude | Numerical Computation and Estimation: Ratios, percentages, powers, exponents, logarithms, permutations, combinations, series |
Data Interpretation: Data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, other data representations), 2D and 3D plots, maps, tables | |
Elementary Statistics and Probability | |
Mensuration and Geometry | |
Analytical Aptitude | Logic: Deduction and induction |
Numerical Relations and Reasoning | |
Analogy | |
Spatial Aptitude | Paper Folding, Cutting, and Patterns: 2D and 3D patterns |
Transformation of Shapes: Translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, grouping |
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IIT Guwahati has released the official GATE 2026 CY syllabus in a pdf format. You can access the GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus pdf from the link below
| GATE CY Syllabus 2026 PDF Download Link |
|---|
Based on the previous questions asked in the GATE Chemistry exam, here are the important topics to focus on for each section:
Quantum Mechanics and Structure: Focus on Schrödinger equations, particles in a box, harmonic oscillator, and hydrogen-like atoms.
Molecular Structure and Bonding: Emphasize Valence bond theory, LCAO-MO theory, and Hückel approximation.
Spectroscopy: Prioritize atomic spectroscopy, NMR, and the basics of vibrational and rotational spectroscopy.
Equilibrium: Important areas include thermodynamic functions, the phase rule, and the Nernst Equation.
Kinetics: Study the mechanisms of complex reactions, transition state theory, and catalysis concepts.
Surfaces and Interfaces: Key topics are adsorption isotherms and surface catalysis mechanisms.
Main Group Elements: Focus on the structure and bonding of boranes, borazines, and phosphazenes.
Transition Elements: Pay attention to coordination chemistry, crystal field theory, electronic spectra, and magnetic properties.
Organometallics: Key areas include 18-electron rule, metal-carbonyl complexes, and homogeneous catalysis.
Bioinorganic Chemistry: Important topics include ion transport, oxygen binding, and metalloenzymes.
Solids: Emphasize crystal systems, Bragg’s law, and structures of ionic compounds.
Stereochemistry: Focus on chirality, stereoisomers, conformational analysis, and stereoselective synthesis.
Reaction Mechanisms: Key topics are nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution, addition reactions, and elimination reactions.
Organic Synthesis: Important areas include synthesis and reactions of various organic compounds, carbon-carbon bond formation, and asymmetric synthesis.
Pericyclic Reactions and Photochemistry: Study electrocyclic reactions, cycloadditions, and photochemical reactions.
Heterocyclic Compounds: Pay attention to the structure and reactivity of pyrrole, furan, and thiophene.
Biomolecules: Focus on amino acids, peptides, and the structural features of proteins and nucleic acids.
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| GATE 2026 Mining Engineering Syllabus | GATE 2026 Metallurgical Engineering Syllabus | GATE 2026 Mathematics Syllabus |
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The topic-wise weightage helps any student with the idea of which chapters should be given more priority. Therefore, we have provided here the topics from the GATE Chemistry syllabus along with their expected weightage. The Physical Chemistry section is known to carry a higher weightage compared to the other two sections.
Section | Topic | Approximate Weightage |
|---|---|---|
Physical Chemistry | Structure | 15% |
Molecular Structure and Bonding | 10% | |
Group Theory | 5% | |
Spectroscopy | 10% | |
Equilibrium | 15% | |
Kinetics | 10% | |
Surfaces and Interfaces | 5% | |
Inorganic Chemistry | Main Group Elements | 10% |
Transition Elements | 10% | |
Lanthanides and Actinides | 5% | |
Organometallics | 5% | |
Radioactivity | 5% | |
Bioinorganic Chemistry | 5% | |
Organic Chemistry | Stereochemistry | 10% |
Reaction Mechanisms | 10% | |
Organic Synthesis | 10% | |
Pericyclic Reactions and Photochemistry | 5% | |
Heterocyclic Compounds | 5% | |
Biomolecules | 5% | |
Experimental Techniques | 5% |
Preparing for the GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus effectively involves a combination of strategic study, practice, and understanding the exam format. Here are some tips to help students prepare:
1. Go through the GATE Chemistry syllabus 2026 thoroughly to understand the topics properly.
2. Divide your study time based on the weightage of topics. Focus more on areas with higher weightage, but don't neglect less weighted topics.
3. Use the best books for GATE 2026 exam preparation and standard reference books for Chemistry. Solve the GATE previous year question papers to understand the pattern and difficulty level. Utilize online platforms for additional practice and video tutorials.
4. Pay attention to high-weightage topics like Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Spectroscopy.
5. Take regular mock tests to simulate exam conditions and improve time management.
6. Revise important formulas, reactions, and create a summary for quick revision.
7. Keep track of any updates or changes related to the GATE exam, including changes in the syllabus or exam dates.
8. Maintain a healthy study routine with enough breaks and rest. Engage in stress-relief activities like exercise, meditation, or hobbies to keep your mind fresh.
The selection of good books is very important to crack the GATE exam 2026. Apart from the NCERT books, the following books can help you explore the chapters with more information. Provided below is the list of best books recommended by experts for effective preparation of the GATE 2026 Chemistry syllabus.
Book Title | Author(s) |
|---|---|
Physical Chemistry | Peter Atkins and Julio de Paula |
Inorganic Chemistry | J. Derek Woollins |
Organic Chemistry | Clayden, Greeves, and Warren |
Physical Chemistry: A Molecular Approach | Donald A. McQuarrie and John D. Simon |
Inorganic Chemistry | Gary L. Miessler, Paul J. Fischer, and Donald A. Tarr |
Organic Chemistry as a Second Language: First Semester Topics | David R. Klein |
Numerical Chemistry | P. Bahadur |
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