This is for students seeking admission into their desired university, success in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams is a critical requirement. However, neglecting the JAMB syllabus can lead students down a path of studying irrelevant material, ultimately resulting in failure.
Imagine Ade, who studied diligently but without consulting the JAMB syllabus. On exam day, he was shocked to find that many questions didn’t align with what he had studied. Just as a roadmap guides a traveler, the JAMB syllabus is essential for navigating the exam successfully.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), a Nigerian government agency, sets the JAMB exams and is responsible for organizing and overseeing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for students seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and other higher education institutions in Nigeria.
This examination body has released a comprehensive syllabus for science students preparing for the upcoming JAMB Chemistry exam. A strong performance in the Chemistry section requires a thorough understanding of this syllabus.
JAMB Syllabus for Chemistry
The JAMB Chemistry syllabus is designed to assess students’ knowledge of various chemistry concepts, from basic principles to complex applications. It covers topics from the senior secondary school chemistry curriculum, divided into broad sections that reflect the fundamental areas of the subject.
Key Areas in the JAMB Chemistry Syllabus
The key areas in the JAMB Chemistry Syllabus include:
- Separation of Mixtures and Purification of Chemical Substances
- Pure vs. Impure Substances
- Boiling and Melting Points
- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures
- Chemical and Physical Changes
- Separation Methods:
- Evaporation, simple and fractional distillation
- Sublimation, filtration, crystallization, paper and column chromatography
- Simple and fractional crystallization, magnetization, decantation
- Differentiate between pure and impure substances;
- Use boiling and melting points to determine the purity of chemical substances;
- Distinguish between elements, compounds, and mixtures;
- Identify chemical and physical changes;
- Recognize the properties of the components in a mixture;
- Specify the principles behind each separation method;
- Apply the basic principles of separation processes in everyday life.
- Chemical Combination Laws of definite, multiple, and reciprocal 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 12C=12, the mole concept, Avogadro’s number, and stoichiometry of reactions. Candidates should be able to:
- Perform basic calculations involving formulae, equations, chemical composition, and the mole concept;
- Derive chemical laws from given expressions, statements, or data;
- Interpret graphs related to these laws;
- Calculate the stoichiometry of chemical reactions.
- Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws
- Phenomena supporting the kinetic theory of matter through:
- Melting
- Vaporization
- Boiling
- Freezing
- Condensation
- Boyle’s, Charles’s, Graham’s, and Dalton’s laws (law of partial pressure); combined gas law, molar volume, and atomicity of gases.
- The ideal gas equation (PV = nRT).
- The relationship between vapor density and relative molecular mass of gases.
- Apply the kinetic theory to distinguish between solids, liquids, and gases;
- Explain the reasons for changes in states;
- Draw inferences based on molecular motion;
- Derive gas laws from given statements;
- Interpret graphs related to these laws;
- Perform simple calculations based on these laws and equations.
- Phenomena supporting the kinetic theory of matter through:
- Atomic Structure and Bonding
- The concept of atoms, molecules, and ions, with contributions from Dalton, Millikan, Rutherford, Moseley, Thompson, and Bohr.
- Atomic structure, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number, and isotopes; examples from elements with atomic numbers 1–20.
- Shapes of s and p orbitals.
- The periodic table and periodicity of elements, understanding groups such as alkali metals, halogens, noble gases, and transition metals, and how ionization energy, ionic radii, electron affinity, and electronegativity vary.
- Chemical bonding: Electrovalency, covalency, and the electron configuration of elements and their tendency to attain noble gas structure. Types of bonding like hydrogen bonding, metallic bonding, and coordinate bonding (e.g., [Fe(CN)6]3-, [Cu(NH3)4]2+). Van der Waals’ forces are also mentioned as a unique bonding force.
- Shapes of simple molecules: Linear (H2, O2, C12, HCl, CO2), non-linear (H2O), tetrahedral (CH4), pyramidal (NH3).
- Nuclear Chemistry:
- Radioactivity – Types and properties of radiation
- Nuclear reactions – Basic equations, uses, and applications of natural and artificial radioactivity.
- Differentiate between atoms, molecules, and ions;
- Identify the contributions of key scientists to atomic structure development;
- Calculate protons, neutrons, and electrons from atomic and mass numbers;
- Apply electron arrangement rules;
- Identify common isotopic elements;
- Relate isotopy to mass number;
- Perform basic isotopy-related calculations;
- Differentiate between orbital shapes;
- Identify the number of electrons in s and p orbitals;
- Relate atomic number to element position on the periodic table;
- Recognize property variations across groups and periods;
- Distinguish between bond types;
- Determine bond types based on electron configurations;
- Relate bonding to compound properties;
- Identify different molecular shapes;
- Differentiate between chemical and nuclear reactions;
- Distinguish between natural and artificial radioactivity;
- Compare properties of different nuclear radiation types;
- Calculate the half-life of radioactive materials;
- Balance simple nuclear equations;
- Understand applications of radioactivity.
How to Prepare for the JAMB Chemistry Examination
To prepare for the JAMB Chemistry examination:
- Familiarize yourself with the entire syllabus, focusing on understanding both theoretical concepts and practical applications.
- Review past JAMB Chemistry questions to understand the exam format and identify frequently tested areas.
- Utilize textbooks and resources that comprehensively cover the JAMB Chemistry syllabus, such as “Chemistry: A Course for Senior Secondary Schools” by O.O. Akinmoladun and “Chemistry for Secondary Schools” by J.B. Umeh.
- Practice calculations, balancing reactions, and applying concepts to real-life scenarios to sharpen your skills, as chemistry involves solving problems and equations[8].
- Check the official JAMB website for the latest updates to the syllabus to avoid studying outdated materials.
Download Chemistry JAMB Past Question Below
