Syllabus content and objectives
Official JAMB Chemistry outline · Detailed Syllabus
Content
Concepts of atoms, molecules and ions; contributions of Dalton, Millikan, Rutherford, Moseley, Thomson and Bohr to atomic theory; atomic structure, four quantum numbers, principles governing electron arrangement in orbitals, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number and isotopes, with examples from elements of atomic numbers 1–20; shapes of s and p orbitals.
Objective
Distinguish between atoms, molecules and ions; identify the contributions of scientists to atomic theory; deduce the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons from atomic and mass numbers; apply rules governing electron arrangement; identify common isotopic elements; relate isotopy to mass number; perform simple isotope calculations; differentiate orbital shapes; determine the number of electrons in s and p atomic orbitals.
Content
The periodic table and periodicity of elements; recognition of families such as alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, halogens, noble gases and transition metals; variation in ionization energy, ionic radii, electron affinity, electronegativity, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity.
Objective
Relate atomic number to an element's position in the periodic table; relate properties of elements to their groups; explain variations in properties across periods and down groups.
Content
Chemical bonding: electrovalency and covalency; electron configurations and tendency to attain noble-gas structures; hydrogen bonding and metallic bonding; coordinate covalent bonds illustrated by [Fe(CN)6]3-, [Fe(CN)6]4-, [Cu(NH3)4]2+ and [Ag(NH3)2]+; van der Waals' forces as a special type of bonding force.
Objective
Differentiate between types of bonding; deduce bond types from electron configurations; relate the nature of bonding to the properties of compounds.
Content
Shapes of simple molecules: linear molecules (H2, O2, Cl2, HCl and CO2), non-linear H2O, tetrahedral CH4 and pyramidal NH3.
Objective
Differentiate between the shapes of simple molecules.
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