IMAT 2026 Chemistry: Syllabus Introduction

This syllabus is based on the official IMAT 2025 chemistry syllabus, which is identical to 2024.

Note: The official IMAT 2026 syllabus has not yet been released.

Overview and Strategy

Chemistry is a core science section of the IMAT and tests both conceptual understanding and quantitative reasoning.

• Total Questions: 15 chemistry questions
• Skills Tested: Concept mastery, calculations, interpretation of chemical behavior
• Approach: Strong fundamentals + fast, calculator-free problem solving

1. Constitution of Matter

• States of aggregation of matter
• Homogeneous and heterogeneous systems
• Elements and compounds

2. Atomic Structure and Periodic System

• Elementary particles, atomic number, mass number, isotopes
• Electronic structure of atoms
• Periodic table: groups, periods, transition elements
• Periodic trends: atomic radius, ionization energy, electron affinity, metallic character

3. Chemical Bonds and Intermolecular Forces

• Ionic, covalent, and metallic bonding
• Bond energy and bond polarity
• Electronegativity
• Intermolecular forces

4. Inorganic Chemistry Fundamentals

• Nomenclature and properties of inorganic compounds
• Oxides, hydroxides, acids, and salts

5. Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry

• Atomic and molecular mass
• Avogadro’s number and mole concept
• Balancing chemical equations
• Types of chemical reactions
• Elementary stoichiometric calculations

6. Solutions and Chemical Equilibria

• Solvent properties of water
• Solubility and concentration expressions
• Equilibria in aqueous solutions

7. Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis

• Reaction rate
• Factors affecting reaction speed
• Catalysts

8. Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

• Oxidation number
• Oxidizing and reducing agents
• Balancing simple redox reactions

9. Acids, Bases, and pH

• Concept of acids and bases
• pH scale
• Acidity, neutrality, and basicity
• Hydrolysis and buffer solutions

10. Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry

• Bonds between carbon atoms
• Structural formulas and isomerism
• Aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbons
• Functional groups: alcohols, ethers, amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides
• Basic organic nomenclature