Complete JAMB Chemistry Syllabus 2026: All Topics & What to Focus On
Preparing for JAMB Chemistry? This is the complete official JAMB syllabus with all 18 topics you need to cover for the 2026 UTME.
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How to Use This Syllabus
- Go through each topic below and honestly rate yourself: strong, okay, or weak
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JAMB Chemistry Syllabus — All 18 Topics
1. Separation of Mixtures and Purification of Chemical Substances
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between elements, compounds and mixture
- Differentiate between chemical and physical changes
- Distinguish between pure and impure substances
- Use boiling and melting points as criteria for purity of chemical substances
- Identify the properties of the components of a mixture
- Specify the principle involved in each separation method
- Apply the basic principle of separation processes in everyday life
Key areas: Elements, compounds and mixtures, chemical and physical changes, pure and impure substances, boiling, density, freezing and melting points, separation processes
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
2. Chemical Combination
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Deduce the chemical laws from given expressions/statements/data
- Perform simple calculations involving formulae, equations/chemical composition and the mole concept
- Deduce the stoichiometry of chemical reactions
Key areas: Laws of definite, multiple and reciprocal proportions, law of conservation of matter, chemical symbols, formulae, equations and their uses, relative atomic mass based on 12C=12, the mole concept and stoichiometry of reactions
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
3. Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Apply the theory to distinguish between solids, liquids and gases
- Deduce reasons for change of state
- Draw inferences based on molecular motion
- Deduce gas laws from given expressions/statements
- Interpret graphical representations related to these laws
- Perform simple calculations based on these laws, equations and relationships
- State factors responsible for the deviation of real gases from ideal situation
Key areas: Phenomena to support the kinetic theory of matter, laws of Boyle, Charles, Avogadro, Gay-Lussac, Graham and Dalton, molar volume and atomicity of gases, ideal gas equation, relationship between vapour density of gases and the relative molecular mass
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
4. Atomic Structure and Bonding
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between atoms, molecules and ions
- Identify the contributions of these scientists to the development of the atomic structure
- Deduce the number of protons, neutrons and electrons from atomic and mass numbers of an atom
- Apply the rules guiding the arrangement of electrons in an atom
Key areas: Concept of atoms, molecules and ions, atomic structure, the four quantum numbers, principles that govern the arrangement of atoms into orbitals, electron configuration, atomic number, mass number and isotopes
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
5. Nuclear Chemistry
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between ordinary chemical reaction and nuclear reaction
- Differentiate between natural and artificial radioactivity
- Compare the properties of the different types of nuclear radiations
- Compute simple calculations on the half-life of a radioactive material
- Balance simple nuclear equation
- Identify the various applications of radioactivity
Key areas: Radioactivity, types, properties and detection of radiations, natural and artificial radioactivity, nuclear stability and radioactive decay, nuclear reactions
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
6. Solubility
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between the different types of solutions
- Interpret solubility curves
- Calculate the amount of solute that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a given temperature
- Deduce that solubility is temperature-dependent
- Relate nature of solvents to their uses
- Differentiate among true solutions, suspensions and colloids
- Compare the properties of a ‘true’ solution and a ‘false’ solution
- Provide typical examples of suspensions and colloids
Key areas: Unsaturated, saturated and supersaturated solutions, solubility curves and simple deductions from them, solvents for fats, oil, perspiration and paints
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
7. Environmental Pollution
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Give reason(s) for the existence of air as a mixture
- Identify the principle involved in the separation of air components
- State reasons for the variation in the composition of air in the environment
- Specify the uses of some of the constituents of air
- Identify the different types of pollution and pollutants
- Specify different sources of pollutants
- Classify pollutants as biodegradable and non-biodegradable
- Specify the effects of pollution on the environment
- Identify measures for control of environmental pollution
Key areas: Air, water and soil pollution, causes, effects and control of each type of pollution
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
8. Acids, Bases and Salts
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between the properties of acids and bases
- Identify the different types of acids and bases
- Determine the basicity of acids
- Differentiate between acidity and alkalinity using acid/base indicators
- Identify the various methods of preparation of salts
- Classify different types of salts
- Relate degree of dissociation to strength of acids and bases
- Relate degree of dissociation to conductance
Key areas: General characteristics, properties and uses of acids, bases and salts, acid/base indicators, basicity of acids, normal, acidic, basic and double salts
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
9. Oxidation and Reduction - Redox
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify the various forms of expressing oxidation and reduction
- Classify chemical reactions in terms of oxidation or reduction
- Balance redox reaction equations
- Deduce the oxidation number of chemical species
- Compute the number of electron transfer in redox reactions
- Identify the name of redox species in a reaction
- Distinguish between oxidizing and reducing agents in redox reactions
- Apply oxidation number in naming inorganic compounds
- Relate reagents to their oxidizing and reducing abilities
Key areas: Oxidation in terms of the addition of oxygen, reduction as removal of oxygen, oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer, use of oxidation numbers
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
10. Electrolysis
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Distinguish between electrolytes and non-electrolytes
- Perform calculations based on faraday as mole of electrons
- Identify suitable electrodes for different electrolytes
- Specify the chemical reactions at the electrodes
- Determine the products at the electrodes
- Identify the factors that affect the products of electrolysis
- Specify the different areas of application of electrolysis
- State the significance of electrochemical series
- Identify the various electrochemical cells
- Calculate electrode potentials using half-cell reaction equations
- Determine the different areas of application of electrolytic processes
- Identify methods used in protecting metals
Key areas: Electrolytes and non-electrolytes, Faraday’s laws of electrolysis, electrolysis of dilute H2SO4, aqueous CuSO4, CuC12 solution, dilute and concentrated NaC1 solutions and fused NaC1
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
11. Energy Changes
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Determine the types of heat changes (∆H) in physical and chemical processes
- Interpret graphical representations of heat changes
- Relate the physical state of a substance to the degree of orderliness
- Determine the conditions for spontaneity of a reaction
- Relate ∆H0, ∆S0 and ∆G0 as the driving forces for chemical reactions
- Solve simple problems based on the relationships ∆G0= ∆H0 -T∆S0
Key areas: Energy changes (∆H) accompanying physical and chemical changes, dissolution of substances in/or reaction with water, endothermic (+∆H) and exothermic (-∆H) reactions
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
12. Rates of Chemical Reaction
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify the factors that affect the rates of a chemical reaction
- Determine the effects of temperature on the rate of reactions
- Examine the effect of concentration/pressure on the rate of a chemical reaction
- Describe how the rate of a chemical reaction is affected by surface area
- Determine the types of catalysts suitable for different reactions and their effects
- Determine ways of moderating these effects in chemical reactions
- Interpret reaction rate curves
- Solve simple problems on the rate of reactions
- Relate the rate of reaction to the kinetic theory of matter
- Examine the significance of activation energy to chemical reactions
- Deduce the value of activation energy(Ea) from reaction rate curves
Key areas: Elementary treatment of the factors which can change the rate of a chemical reaction, temperature, concentration/pressure, surface area, catalyst
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
13. Chemical Equilibra
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify the factors that affect the position of equilibrium of a chemical reaction
- Predict the effects of each factor on the position of equilibrium
- Specify the industrial processes where Le Chatelier’s principle is required
- Determine the effects of these factors on equilibrium constant
Key areas: Reversible reactions and factors governing the equilibrium position, dynamic equilibrium, Le Chatelier’s principle and its industrial applications
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
14. Non-metals and their Compounds
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Predict reagents for the laboratory and industrial preparation of these gases and their compounds
- Identify the properties of the gases and their compounds
- Compare the properties of these gases and their compounds
- Specify the uses of each gas and its compounds
- Determine the specific test for each gas and its compounds
Key areas: Hydrogen, halogens, oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, carbon
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
15. Metals and their Compounds
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Specify the general properties of metals
- Determine the method of extraction suitable for each metal
- Relate the methods of extraction to the properties for the metals
- Compare the chemical reactivities of the metals
- Specify the uses of the metals
- Determine specific test for metallic ions
Key areas: General properties of metals, alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, aluminium, tin, metals of the first transition series, iron, copper
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
16. Organic Compounds
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Derive the name of organic compounds from their general formulae
- Relate the name of a compound to its structure
- Relate the tetravalency of carbon to its ability to form chains of compound (catenation)
- Classify compounds according to their functional groups
- Derive empirical formula and molecular formula from given data
- Relate structure/functional groups to specific properties
Key areas: Tetravalency of carbon, general formula, IUPAC nomenclature, empirical formula, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alkanols, alkanals and alkanones, alkanoic acids, alkanoates, amines, carbohydrates
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
17. Chemistry and Industry
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Classify chemical industries in terms of products
- Identify raw materials for each industry
- Distinguish between fine and heavy chemicals
- Enumerate the relevance of each of these industries
- Relate industrial processes to biotechnology
Key areas: Chemical industries, types, raw materials and relevance, biotechnology
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
18. Astronomical Chemistry
What JAMB expects you to know:
- State the composition of the solar system
- List the planets
- Identify the segments of the earth
- Name the natural satellite on the earth
- Identify the smallest planet that is also the farthest from the sun
Key areas: Solar system, planets, satellite and the composition of the earth - atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
Recommended reading:
- Ababio, O. Y. (2009). New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition), Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
- Bajah, S.T., Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G. and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999). Senior Secondary Chemistry, Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
- Ojokuku, G. O. (2012).Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition), Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
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Last updated: March 15, 2026. This syllabus is based on the official JAMB/IBASS syllabus for Chemistry.