Syllabus content and objectives
Official JAMB Chemistry outline · Detailed Syllabus
Content
General properties of metals.
Objective
Specify the general properties of metals; determine suitable extraction methods; relate extraction methods to metal properties; compare chemical reactivities; specify metal uses; determine specific tests for metallic ions.
Content
Alkali metals, especially sodium. Sodium hydroxide: production by electrolysis of brine; action on aluminium, zinc and lead ions; uses, including precipitation of metallic hydroxides. Sodium trioxocarbonate(IV) and sodium hydrogen trioxocarbonate(IV): production by the Solvay process, properties and uses, including Na2CO3 in glass manufacture. Sodium chloride: occurrence in seawater, uses, economic importance of seawater, recovery of sodium chloride and test for Na+.
Objective
Describe production of sodium compounds; compare their reactivities; identify their properties and uses; determine specific tests for sodium ions.
Content
Alkaline-earth metals, especially calcium; calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide and calcium trioxocarbonate(IV), their properties and uses; preparation of calcium oxide from seashells; chemical composition of cement and setting of mortar; test for Ca2+.
Objective
Describe the preparation, properties and uses of calcium compounds; specify the chemical composition of cement; explain the setting of mortar; identify tests for calcium ions.
Content
Aluminium: purification of bauxite, electrolytic extraction, properties and uses of aluminium and its compounds; test for Al3+.
Objective
Describe bauxite purification and aluminium extraction; identify properties and uses of aluminium and its compounds; determine specific tests for aluminium ions.
Content
Tin: extraction from ores, properties and uses.
Objective
Specify ores of tin; relate its extraction method to its properties; identify uses of tin.
Content
Metals of the first transition series: characteristic electron configurations, oxidation states, complex-ion formation, coloured ions and catalysis.
Objective
Identify general properties of first-row transition metals; explain their characteristic properties; determine IUPAC names of simple transition-metal complexes.
Content
Iron: extraction from sulphide and oxide ores; properties and uses; different forms of iron, their properties and advantages of steel over iron; tests for Fe2+ and Fe3+.
Objective
Determine suitable methods for iron extraction; specify properties and uses of iron; identify different forms of iron, their compositions, properties and uses; determine tests for Fe2+ and Fe3+.
Content
Copper: extraction from sulphide and oxide ores; properties and uses of copper; preparation and uses of copper(II) tetraoxosulphate(VI); test for Cu2+.
Objective
Identify suitable extraction methods for copper; relate properties of copper and its compounds to their uses; specify the preparation of CuSO4; determine tests for Cu2+.
Content
Alloys: steel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, type-metal, duralumin, soft solder, permalloy and alnico; constituents and uses.
Objective
Specify constituents and uses of the listed alloys; compare the properties and uses of alloys with those of pure metals.
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