JEE Main Inorganic Chemistry: p-Block, d-Block & Coordination Compounds

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Inorganic Chemistry is the most directly NCERT-dependent part of JEE Main. If you read NCERT carefully, you can answer 90% of Inorganic questions. Here is how to approach each section efficiently.

p-Block Elements (3-4 questions)

Group 13-18 elements. Focus: Oxides and oxoacids of N, P, S, Cl (structures and reactions). Allotropes of C, S, P. Interhalogen compounds. Anomalous properties of first member (e.g., N vs P). JEE Main loves comparing properties down a group.

d and f Block Elements (2 questions)

Properties: variable oxidation states, colored ions, catalytic activity, magnetic properties. Key compounds: KMnO₄, K₂Cr₂O₇ — reactions in acidic and basic medium. f-block: lanthanide contraction and its consequences.

Coordination Chemistry (2-3 questions)

IUPAC naming of coordination compounds. Crystal Field Theory — splitting patterns for octahedral/tetrahedral fields, high vs low spin. Effective Atomic Number (EAN). Isomerism types: geometrical, optical, ionization, linkage.

Metallurgy and Extraction

General principles: froth flotation, electromagnetic separation, calcination, roasting, smelting, refining. Extraction of: Al (Hall-Héroult), Cu (Blister copper), Fe (Blast furnace), Zn. Typically 1-2 direct questions per paper.

Environmental Chemistry (Easy 1 question)

Types of pollution, greenhouse gases, acid rain, ozone depletion (CFC, Rowland-Molina). BOD, COD, eutrophication. These are factual, NCERT-based, and quickly memorized. Worth securing as they are direct mark questions.

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