UPSC IFOS Chemistry Paper II Syllabus

Indian Forest Service Examination

9
Topics: 47
Sub-topics: 8
Questions

Chemistry Paper II is one of 32 sections in the UPSC IFOS syllabus. It has 9 topics and 47 sub-topics, tested in Main Examination, with about 8 questions (200 marks). Optional subject, Paper II (200 marks, 3 hours, conventional essay type, answered in English). The paper has 8 questions in Parts A and B; candidates attempt 5, including one compulsory question from each part. Candidates choose any two of the 14 optional subjects..

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UPSC IFOS Chemistry Paper II: topic-wise syllabus

1
Delocalised Covalent Bonding
- Aromaticity and anti-aromaticity
- Annulenes, azulenes and tropolones
- Kekulene, fulvenes and sydnones
2
Reaction Mechanisms and Reactive Intermediates
- Kinetic and non-kinetic methods of studying mechanisms
- Energy diagrams, transition states and activation energy
- Thermodynamic and kinetic control
- Carbocations, carbanions and free radicals
- Carbenes, benzynes and nitrenes
3
Substitution, Elimination, Addition and Rearrangement Reactions
- SN1, SN2, SNi and SRN1 mechanisms
- Neighbouring group participation
- Aromatic and heterocyclic substitution
- E1, E2 and E1cb eliminations
- Pyrolytic syn eliminations
- Electrophilic and nucleophilic additions
- Named rearrangements: Pinacol, Beckmann, Claisen, Cope and others
4
Pericyclic Reactions
- Classification of pericyclic reactions
- Woodward-Hoffmann rules
- Electrocyclic reactions
- Cycloaddition reactions
- Sigmatropic shifts
- FMO approach
5
Chemistry and Mechanism of Named Reactions
- Aldol and Claisen condensations
- Dieckmann, Perkin and Knoevenagel reactions
- Wittig, Clemmensen and Wolff-Kishner reactions
- Cannizzaro and von Richter reactions
- Stobbe, benzoin and acyloin condensations
- Fischer indole and Skraup syntheses
- Bischler-Napieralski, Sandmeyer, Reimer-Tiemann and Reformatsky reactions
6
Polymeric Systems
- Polymer solutions and their thermodynamics
- Number and weight average molecular weights
- Molecular weight determination methods
- Organic polymers
- Inorganic polymers
- Biopolymers: proteins, DNA and RNA
7
Synthetic Uses of Reagents
- Oxidising reagents: OsO4, HIO4, CrO3, Pb(OAc)4, SeO2, MCPBA
- NBS and B2H6
- Reducing reagents: Na-liquid NH3, LiAlH4, NaBH4
- n-BuLi
8
Organic Photochemistry
- Photochemical reactions of simple organic compounds
- Excited and ground states; singlet and triplet states
- Norrish Type I and Type II reactions
9
Spectroscopy and Structure Elucidation
- Rotational spectra
- Vibrational spectra and functional group frequencies
- Electronic spectra and Woodward-Fieser rules
- Proton NMR: chemical shift and coupling constants
- Mass spectra and McLafferty rearrangement
- Electron spin resonance

Frequently asked questions

What topics are in the UPSC IFOS Chemistry Paper II syllabus?

Chemistry Paper II for UPSC IFOS has 9 topics: Delocalised Covalent Bonding, Reaction Mechanisms and Reactive Intermediates, Substitution, Elimination, Addition and Rearrangement Reactions, Pericyclic Reactions, Chemistry and Mechanism of Named Reactions, Polymeric Systems, Synthetic Uses of Reagents, Organic Photochemistry and Spectroscopy and Structure Elucidation, with 47 sub-topics in all.

How many questions come from Chemistry Paper II in UPSC IFOS?

About 8 questions (200 marks) in Main Examination. Always check the latest notification, as numbers can change.

How do I practise UPSC IFOS Chemistry Paper II on Topicly?

Pick a topic above and study it your way — step-by-step chat, a quiz, a formula sheet or a voice call with Sia. Topicly tracks each sub-topic so you know what's left. It's free to start.

A study guide, not an official notice. Always confirm with the conducting body's latest notification. See the full exam page for any recorded source, check date and coverage limits.