JAMB 2025 CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS
Introduction:
JAMB 2025 CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS aims to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the following objectives:
- Understand the basic principles and concepts in chemistry.
- Interpret scientific data relating to chemistry.
- Deduce the relationships between chemistry and other sciences.
- Apply the knowledge of chemistry to industry and everyday life.
Table of Contents
- Introduction:
- 1. Separation of Mixtures and Purification of Chemical Substances
- 2. Chemical Combination
- 3. Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws
- 4. Atomic Structure and Bonding
- 5. Air
- 6. Water
- 7. Solubility
- 8. Environmental Pollution
- 9. Acids, Bases, and Salts
- 10. Oxidation and Reduction
- 11. Electrolysis
- 12. Energy Changes
- 13. Rates of Chemical Reactions
- 14. Chemical Equilibrium
- 15. Non-Metals and Their Compounds
- 16. Metals and Their Compounds
- 17. Organic Compounds
- 18. Chemistry and Industry
- Recommended Texts
1. Separation of Mixtures and Purification of Chemical Substances
Topics:
- Pure and impure substances
- Boiling and melting points
- Elements, compounds, and mixtures
- Chemical and physical changes
- Separation processes: evaporation, simple and fractional distillation, sublimation, filtration, crystallization, paper and column chromatography, simple and fractional crystallization, magnetization, decantation
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Distinguish between pure and impure substances.
- Use boiling and melting points as criteria for purity.
- Differentiate between elements, compounds, and mixtures.
- Differentiate between chemical and physical changes.
- Identify the properties of components in a mixture.
- Apply separation processes in everyday life.
2. Chemical Combination
Topics:
- Stoichiometry
- Laws of definite and multiple proportions
- Law of conservation of matter
- Gay Lussac’s law of combining volumes
- Avogadro’s law
- Chemical symbols, formulae, equations, and their uses
- Relative atomic mass based on ^{12}C=12
- The mole concept and Avogadro’s number
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Perform calculations involving formulae, equations, and the mole concept.
- Deduce chemical laws from data.
- Interpret graphical representations of these laws.
- Deduce stoichiometry in chemical reactions.
3. Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws
Topics:
- The kinetic theory of matter (melting, vaporization, boiling, freezing, condensation in terms of molecular motion and Brownian movement).
- Laws of Boyle, Charles, Graham, Dalton, combined gas law, molar volume, and atomicity of gases.
- The ideal gas equation (PV = nRT).
- Relationship between vapour density and relative molecular mass of gases.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Apply the kinetic theory to distinguish between solids, liquids, and gases.
- Deduce reasons for changes of state.
- Deduce gas laws and perform calculations based on them.
4. Atomic Structure and Bonding
Topics:
- Atomic structure, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number, isotopes.
- The periodic table and periodicity of elements.
- Chemical bonding: Electrovalency, covalency, hydrogen bonding, metallic bonding, and coordinate bonds.
- Shapes of simple molecules.
- Nuclear chemistry: Types of radioactivity, nuclear reactions, and uses of natural and artificial radioactivity.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Distinguish between atoms, molecules, and ions.
- Identify the contributions of scientists to atomic theory.
- Apply the rules guiding electron arrangement.
- Relate atomic structure to the periodic table.
- Differentiate between bonding types and their effects on compounds.
5. Air
Topics:
- Natural gaseous constituents of air: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, noble gases.
- Air as a mixture and uses of noble gases.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Deduce reasons for air as a mixture.
- Identify the components of air and their uses.
6. Water
Topics:
- Water as a product of combustion, its composition, and uses.
- Hard and soft water, temporary and permanent hardness, methods of softening.
- Treatment of water for town supply.
- Water of crystallization, efflorescence, deliquescence, and hygroscopy.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify the uses of water.
- Differentiate between hard and soft water.
- Describe water treatment methods.
7. Solubility
Topics:
- Saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated solutions.
- Solubility curves and simple deductions.
- Solvents for fats, oils, and paints.
- False solutions: Suspensions and colloids.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Distinguish between solution types.
- Interpret solubility curves and perform calculations.
- Differentiate between true solutions and colloids.
8. Environmental Pollution
Topics:
- Sources and effects of pollutants: Air, water, soil pollution.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify sources and effects of pollutants.
- Propose methods for pollution control.
9. Acids, Bases, and Salts
Topics:
- General characteristics and properties of acids, bases, and salts.
- Preparation of salts by neutralization, precipitation, and acid-metal reactions.
- Acid/base titrations.
- Hydrolysis of salts.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Perform calculations on pH, conduct titrations.
- Relate the strength of acids and bases to their dissociation.
10. Oxidation and Reduction
Topics:
- Oxidation and reduction as electron transfer processes.
- Use of oxidation numbers.
- Tests for oxidizing and reducing agents.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Classify reactions as oxidation or reduction.
- Perform redox reaction calculations.
- Identify oxidizing and reducing agents.
11. Electrolysis
Topics:
- Electrolytes and non-electrolytes.
- Electrolysis of various solutions (CuSO₄, NaCl).
- Uses of electrolysis: Purification, metal extraction.
- Electrochemical cells and corrosion.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify suitable electrodes.
- Perform electrolysis calculations.
- Explain industrial applications of electrolysis.
12. Energy Changes
Topics:
- Heat changes accompanying physical and chemical processes (Endothermic/Exothermic reactions).
- Entropy and spontaneity of reactions.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Determine heat changes in reactions.
- Relate entropy and spontaneity to reaction conditions.
13. Rates of Chemical Reactions
Topics:
- Factors affecting reaction rates: Temperature, concentration, surface area, catalysts.
- Activation energy and Arrhenius law.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify factors affecting reaction rates.
- Determine the effect of catalysts on reactions.
14. Chemical Equilibrium
Topics:
- Reversible reactions, Le Chatelier’s Principle, and equilibrium constants.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Predict effects of factors on equilibrium.
- Analyze equilibrium constants.
15. Non-Metals and Their Compounds
Topics:
- Hydrogen, halogens, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon: Laboratory preparation, properties, uses, and reactions.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Prepare and identify properties of non-metal compounds.
- Relate the uses of non-metal compounds in industry.
16. Metals and Their Compounds
Topics:
- General properties of metals, alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, transition metals.
- Methods of extraction, properties, and uses of metals like sodium, calcium, aluminum, iron, copper, and alloys.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify properties and extraction methods of metals.
- Relate the properties of alloys to their uses.
17. Organic Compounds
Topics:
- Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanols, alkanals, alkanoic acids, and other organic compounds: Structure, properties, reactions, and uses.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify and name organic compounds.
- Perform tests for organic compounds.
18. Chemistry and Industry
Topics:
- Types of chemical industries and their relevance.
- Biotechnology and its relation to chemical industries.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
- Classify chemical industries.
- Relate industrial processes to biotechnology.
Recommended Texts
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (4th ed.).
- Bajah, S. T.; Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G.; and Obikwere, A. (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry Books 1, 2, and 3.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012). Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges (Revised Edition).
- Odesina, I. A. (2008). Essential: Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (2nd ed.).
- Uche, I. O. et al. (2003). Countdown to WASSCE/SSCE, NECO, JME Chemistry.
