2/1/2016

ChemistryNishantYadav'sBlog

NishantYadav'sBlog
ABlogonCivilServicesExamPreparation

Chemistry
AUGUST2,2013BYNISHANTYADAV1

Chemistryreferencematerial
Therearesomecore/primarybookswhicharetobereadfromcovertocover(whichIhaveunderlinedbelow)andothersare
supplementary/subsidiarybookswhichshouldbereferredtopicwiseselectively(thenonunderlinedonesbelow).Belowisthe
listofbookswhichIreferred
PAPER1
st
1.Puri,SharmaandPathania(PSP)willcoverfirst11topicsofpaper1outoftotal15topics.Itcanbesaidasbibleof1 paper
andmustbecoveredthoroughly.
2.NotesbyBrilliantTutorialsCoverallthetopicsbutaretooextensiveatsometopics.Hencetheseareamustreadbutshould
bereadselectively.
3.NotesofR.K.SinghSir(DIASfaculty)
4.NotesofAbhijeetAgrawalSir(AIR24CSE2009)whichareavailableonhisblogathttp://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in
https://nishantyadav1.wordpress.com/category/chemistry/
(http://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in).Thesenotesextensivelycoversomeoftheimportanttopicsandhenceshouldbereferred 1/7

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ChemistryNishantYadav'sBlog

(http://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in).Thesenotesextensivelycoversomeoftheimportanttopicsandhenceshouldbereferred
speciallyforthetopicswhichlackcoverageinconventionalbooks(forexample,inElectrochemistryProcessesatelectrodes,
DoubleLayeratInterface,Overpotential,Polarography,Amperometry,IonSelectiveElectrodesetc.)
5.K.L.Kapoor:Volume1forStatesofthematter,Volume2forThermodynamicsandChemicalequilibrium,Volume3forPhase
equilibriumandElectrochemistry,Volume4forQuantumChemistry,Volume5forDynamicsofChemicalReactions(i.e.
ChemicalKinetics)andStatisticalthermodynamics
6.InorganicChemistrybyJ.D.LeeforInorganicportion(topic12,13,14and15ofsyllabus)
7.InorganicChemistrybyHuheeyetal.anexcellentbookforCoordinationCompounds,ChemicalBonding,MainGroup
ChemistryandBioInorganicChemistry.Conciseandconceptuallyverysolid.
8.Malik,TuliandMadanGoodforChemicalBonding,CoordinationChemistry,fblockcompounds,Boranes,InterHalogen
CompoundsandPartofElectrochemistry
9.AtkinsPhysicalChemistry
10.PuriSharmaandKaliaforCoordinationcompounds,fblock,Organometalliccompounds,SolidStateandBonding.
PAPERII
1.NotesofR.K.SinghSir(DIASfaculty)excellentcoverageofOrganicchemistry
2.OrganicChemistrybyClaydencoversmostofthetopics.Conceptuallyverystrong.Amustfororganicchemistry.
3.BrilliantTutorialsNotes
4.NotesofAbhijeetAgrawalSir(AIR24CSE2009)availableonhisblogathttp://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in
(http://abhijeetagrawal.blogspot.in).
5.Reactions,RearrangementsandReagentsbySNSanyalgoodconcisebookforreactionmechanismandnamedreactions.All
therearrangementsandnamedreactionsaregiveninsynopsisform,henceexcellentforrevising.
6.AGuidebooktoMechanisminOrganicChemistrybyPeterSykesprovidesbasicknowledgeaboutreactionintermediates,
rearrangementsandmechanisms.
7.OrganicChemistrybySolomons
8.OrganicChemistrybyMorrisonandBoyd
PostedinChemistry|7Comments
AUGUST2,2013BYNISHANTYADAV1

StrategyforChemistry
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FewPointsforChemistryOptional
BelowarethefewtipswhichIfoundhelpfulinmypreparationdays
Practiceisverycrucialinchemistry.Someamountoftimeshouldbeallottedtoitonadailybasis.Questionsforpracticecould
befromreferencebooks,coachingnotes,internet,selfframedetc.
Oneshouldmasterlast1015yearschemistrymainsexamquestionpapers.Thisisimportantbecauseitwillenableusto
distinguishkeytopicsandfringetopics.Besides,itwillgiveusaccuracy,speedandconfidence.BrilliantTutorialsprovides
solvedquestionsofmainsexamforlastfewyearswhichcouldalsobereferred.
Prepareshortnotesforimportanttopics.Forothertopics,iftimedoesntpermitthenunderlineandhighlighttheimportant
contentfromvarioussources.Thiswillenableaquickrevision.Usehighlightersofdifferentcolors(atleast34colors)based
onimportanceofcontent.
Writedownformulae,graphs,derivations,diagrams,tipsetconpaperandrevisethemcontinuouslyinsparetime(like
travelling,eating,havingteaetc.).
Presentationisveryimportantinchemistry.Hence,trytomakeneatandprecisediagrams,tablesandgraphsandpracticefor
it.
Whileinexam,usedifferentlycoloredpens(blue,black,andgreen)tomakediagrams,graphsandchartswhicharecomplex.
Thiswillmakethediagramclearerandmoreunderstandable.
InInorganicportion,fewthingshavetoberememberedasitis(i.e.tobemuggedup)likefBlockelements,Bioinorganic
ChemistryandMainGroupChemistry.Thesetopicsareveryscoringasquestionsareaskedinastraightforwardmanner
withoutanycomplications.
InOrganicpart
InSpectroscopy,understandtheconceptratherthanmuggingthepeakvalues.Inlast23years,questionsareaskedbased
ontheconcepti.e.whythosepeaksappearatthosespecifiedvaluesratherthanjustaskingthepeakvalues.Thereisno
needtoexactlyrememberthepeakvaluesfordifferentfunctionalgroupsbutoneshouldhavearoughideaabouttherange
inwhichthevalueslie.
NamedReactionsareaskeddirectlywithoutmuchvariation.Hence,rememberthemproperly.
StraightforwardquestionsareaskedfromfringetopicslikeSyntheticReagents,BiomoleculesandPolymers.Henceif
timepermits,coverthebasicportionofthesetopicsratherthanleavingthemcompletely.Thiscanboostonesscorein2nd
paperby1520marks.
Intheexam,beprecisewhilewritingtheanswersandaimforcompletingthepaperotherwisesomequestionswillhaveto
beleftnonattemptedduetolackoftime.Inmycase,IwroteunnecessarilylengthieranswersforsomequestionsinpaperI
andhencemyattemptwaslimitedto265marks(outof300marks).ThusIcouldnttouchquestionsworth35marks(which
werefamiliartomeandIcouldhavewrittendecentanswers).
Internetistheexcellentsourceforthetopicswhichlackcoverageinbooks.However,internetshouldbesmartlyused.Foe3/7

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Internetistheexcellentsourceforthetopicswhichlackcoverageinbooks.However,internetshouldbesmartlyused.Foe
ex.,ifwesearchforValanceBondTheory(VBT)oninternet,therewillbemanyarticles,ppts,imagesanddiagrams.These
willbefocusingondifferentaspectsofVBTlikeassumptions,postulates,conceptofresonance,conceptofhybridization,
energydiagrams,examplesofVBT,exceptions,shortcomings,comparisonwithMOT,modificationsetc.Oneshouldnote
downthesedifferentaspectsofVBTtoenrichhis/heranswer.However,internetshouldbeusedasasupplementary
sourceonlyandnotasaprimarysource.
RoleofPresentationofanswersinchemistry
Duetosubjectivenatureoftheexam,markscanvarygreatlybasedonthemannerofpresentingthesameanswer.Hence
Oneshouldshowallthestepswhilewritingtheanswer.Dontjumpdirectlytothefinalsolutionwithoutshowingproper
stepsthoughwhichsolutionisreached.
Whilewritingtheanswers(especiallyderivations),clearlystatethebackgroundoftheproblem,writetheassumptionsand
mentionwhichsymbolstandsforwhat.
Writethemodifications/corrections,advantages/disadvantages,shortcomings,comparisonsetcintheendoftheanswer
whereverapplicable.
Forexample,whilederivingDebyeHuckelLimitingLaw(DHLL)ofMeanIonicActivityCoefficientsforstrongelectrolytes,
followingstepsshouldbefollowed
Firstwritedowntheassumptions
IonicSphereformedbyoppositelychargedionsissphericallysymmetrici.e.sphericalnatureofionicatmosphere
Thereisnegligibleionpairformation
Ionsinvolvedaretakenaspointcharges
Electrolyteactivityisindependentofhydrationnumber
Potentialenergy(e)ismuchlowerthanthermalenergy(kT)
Nowwritedownthesymbolstobeusedinderivation
standsfornetchargedensity
standsforaveragepotentialatadistancerfromgivenion
KstandsforBoltzmannconstantetc
Nowwritedownthederivationandreachtothefollowingresult
log=A|Z Z |I

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log=A|Z+Z|I
Where
ismeanionicactivitycoefficient
Aisaconstantforagivenmedium(andis0.509forwaterat298K)
Z+Z|isthenumericalvalueoftheproductofionicvalencies
2
Iisionicstrength,givenbymiZi
Andmiisthemolalitywithrespecttotheithspecies
Now,writethemodificationsasextendedDHLLtakefollowingpointsintoconsideration
Correctionfornonsymmetryofionicatmosphere
Correctionforionsize
Correctionforassociationofions(BjerrumstheoryofIonAssociationinElectrolyteSolutions)
Correctionforhydrationofions
CorrectionforlinearizationofPoisonBoltzmannequation
Inlightofallabovemodifications,DHLLcanberewrittenas
log=(A|Z+Z|I)/(1+BI)+CI
whereCisanempiricalconstantwhichcanbeevaluatedfromtheexperimentaldata.
PostedinChemistry|7Comments
JULY31,2013BYNISHANTYADAV1

StrategyforScienceOptionals
ChoosinganOptional

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Optional selection is one of the most important decisions to be taken by an aspirant and it has become even more

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Optional selection is one of the most important decisions to be taken by an aspirant and it has become even more
important after the revised pattern of mains exam with only one optional, carrying 500 marks. In the light of these new
developments,letusdiscusswhatpointsanaspirantshouldkeepinmindwhilechoosinganoptional
Onesinterestinthesubject
Background/familiarity
Availabilityofguidanceandstudymaterial
Highscoringnatureofoptional
Shouldtakelesstimetoprepare(asmorefocushastobeputonGSwhichcarries1000marks)
Shouldoffersomekindofsafetyandcertainty
HelpfulinGS,essayandinterviewaswell
Thereisperhapsnooptionalwhichwouldfulfillallaboveconditionsandhenceoneshouldlookforanoptionalwhich
optimizesabovepoints.However,onesinterestinthesubjectshouldbethemostimportantfactorindecidingaboutoptional.
AboutScienceOptionals
Thereisageneralperceptionamongaspirantsthatsciencesubjectsaresomewhatlessrewardingasanoptionalthanthe
arts subjects in Civil Services Exam. Through various queries and feedbacks, I have come to know about the common existing
notion that UPSC is somewhat biased to science and engineering optionals and they are given stepmotherly treatment. As a
result,Ihaveseenmanystudentshavingscienceandengineeringbackgroundshesitatetooptfortheseoptionalsandgoforarts
optionals.Well,Iwouldsayitsamythandnothingelse.
Imayagreetothepointthatsyllabusforsciencesubjectsislengthierandhencetheyneedmorethoroughpreparationand
hardwork.Butatthesametime,onceyoumasterthem,theywillpaycertainrichdividends.Throughmanyseniors,batchmates
andfriends,Ihavelearnedthatscoreinsciencesubjectsgenerallyincreasewitheachattemptandthustheyofferakindofsafety
andcertainty(whichisessentialwiththechangedpatternandGShavingmoreweightagenow).Thiscertaintyisnotofferedby
artssubjectsingeneral,asevidentfromthisyearsresultwheretwoofthemostpopularoptionalweretargetedandfaredvery
badly,eventhegoodandexperiencedstudentsgettinglowmarks.Thusoneshouldsticktohis/herinterestinthesubjectrather
thanrumorswhilechoosingtheoptional.
Focusmoreonrevisions
OurfocusshouldnotbetoclearCivilServicesExamsomehowbuttoclearitwithgoodmarksandinminimumpossibletime(i.e.
infirstattempt).Thisrequiresfocusedpreparationandstudyingonlythatstudymaterialwhichisabsolutelynecessary.Thus,one
shouldstudylessandrevisemoreformainsexam.
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Ihadlessthanoneyearforpreparationfortheexamandwithinthatlimitedtimeframe,IhadtoprepareforGSandtwo

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ChemistryNishantYadav'sBlog

Ihadlessthanoneyearforpreparationfortheexamandwithinthatlimitedtimeframe,IhadtoprepareforGSandtwo
optionalfromscratchasIdidnothavemuchpriorknowledgeaboutthese.Asaresult,Ifocusedonlyoncoreareasandrevised
themcontinuously.MyaimwasthatIshouldbeabletoattemptaquestionproperlyifIhavereadaboutthattopicearlier.Ithink
thereisnopointinstudyingalargenumberofbooksifwecantreproducethatlearnedknowledgeinexamduetolackof
revision.Henceoneshouldrefertolimitedno.ofbookswhicharebasicforparticulartopicandthenrevisethemagainandagain.
Ihaveseenmanypeoplewhostudyloadsofstudymaterial(coachingnotes,books,newspapers,magazines,articlesetc.)before
mainsexambutareunabletohaveasecondlookatitandthuscantreproduceitinexam,resultingintowasteoftime,energy,
moneyandattempts.
Studylessamountofmaterial

Willhavemoretimetorevise

Willbeabletoreproducemoreinexam
Selective/MarksOrientedStudy(keytopics)
Ifweanalyzelastfewyearsquestionpapers,itcanbeeasilyconcludedthatsometopicsaremorefrequentlyaskedand
carrymoremarksthanothers.Thesekey/centraltopicsaretheoneswhichshouldbethoroughlypreparedfirstandtheniftime
permits,otherfringe/lessaskedtopicscanbecovered.Oneshouldtrytoachieveperfectioninwritinganswersonthesekey
topics.Hence,ratherthantryingtocoverthecompletesyllabus,oneshouldpreparesmartlyandselectively.
PostedinChemistry,Uncategorized|6Comments
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