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CHEMISTRY
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Chemistry is to
prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their comprehension of the
course objectives, which are to:
DETAILED SYLLABUS
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(a) Pure and impure substances (i) distinguish between pure and impure substances;
(ii) use boiling and melting points as criteria for
(b) Boiling and melting points purity of chemical substances;
(iii) distinguish between elements, compounds and
(c) Elements, compounds and mixtures mixture;
(iv) differentiate between chemical and physical
(d) Chemical and physical changes changes;
(v) identify the properties of the components of a
(e) Separation processes: mixture;
Evaporation, simple and fractional distillation, (vi) specify the principle involved in each separation
sublimation, filtration, crystallization, paper method; and
and column chromatography, simple and (vii) apply the basic principle of separation processes
fractional crystallization, magnetization, in everyday life.
decantation.
3. Kinetic Theory of Matter and Gas Laws Candidates should be able to:
(a) Phenomena to support the kinetic theory of (i) apply the theory to distinguish between solids,
matter using liquids and gases;
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(a) (i)The concept of atoms, molecules and ions, the (i) distinguish between atoms, molecules and ions;
works of Dalton, Millikan, Rutherford, (ii) identify the contributions of these scientists to
Moseley, Thompson and Bohr. the development of the atomic structure;
(iii) deduce the number of protons, neutrons and
(ii) Atomic structure, electron configuration, atomic electrons from atomic and mass numbers of
number, mass number and isotopes; specific an atom;
examples should be drawn from elements of
atomic number 1 to 20. (iv) apply the rules guiding the arrangement of
(iii) Shapes of s and p orbitals. electrons in an atom;
(v) identify common elements exhibiting isotopy;
(vi) relate isotopy to mass number;
(b) The periodic table and periodicity of elements, (vii) perform simple calculations relating to isotopy;
presentation of the periodic table with a view (viii) differentiate between the shapes of the orbitals;
to recognizing families of elements e.g. alkali (ix) determine the number of electrons in s and
metals, halogens, the noble gases and p atomic orbitals;
transition metals. The variation of the (x) relate atomic number to the position of an
following properties: ionization energy, ionic element on the periodic table;
radii, electron affinity and electronegativity. (xi) relate properties of groups of elements on the
(c) Chemical bonding. periodic table;
Electrovalency and covalency, the electron (xii) identify reasons for variation in properties
configuration of elements and their tendency across the period and down the groups;
to attain the noble gas structure. Hydrogen
bonding and metallic bonding as special types (xiii) differentiate between the different types
of electrovalency and covalency respectively; of bonding;
coordinate bond as a type of covalent (xiv) deduce bond types based on electron
bond as illustrated by complexes like configurations;
[Fe(CN)6]3-, [Fe(CN)6]4-, [Cu(NH3)4]2+and (xv) relate the nature of bonding to properties
[Ag(NH3)2]+; van der Waals’ forces should be of compounds;
mentioned as a special type of bonding forces.
(d) Shapes of simple molecules: linear ((H2, O2, (xvi) differentiate between the various shapes
C12, HCl and CO2), non-linear (H2O), of molecules;
tetrahedral; (CH4) and pyramidal (NH3).
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(a) The natural gaseous constituents and (i) deduce reason (s) for the existence of
their proportion in the air. air as a mixture;
– nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, carbon (ii) identify the principle involved in the
(IV) oxide and the noble gases (argon separation of air components;
and neon). (iii) deduce reasons for the variation in the
composition of air in the environment; and
(b) Air as a mixture and some uses of the (iv) specify the uses of some of the
noble gas. constituents of air.
(a) Water as a product of the combustion (i) identify the various uses of water;
of hydrogen and its composition by (ii) identify the effects of dissolved atmospheric
volume. gases in water;
(b) Water as a solvent, atmospheric gases (iii) distinguish between the properties of hard and
dissolved in water and their biological soft water;
significance. (iv) determine the causes of hardness;
(c) Hard and soft water: (v) identify methods of removal of hardness;
Temporary and permanent (vi) describe the processes involved in the
hardness and methods of softening treatment of water for town supply;
hard water. (vii) distinguish between these phenomena; and
(d) Treatment of water for town supply. (viii) identify the various compounds that exhibit
(e) Water of crystallization, efflorescence, these phenomena.
deliquescence and hygroscopy. Examples
of the substances exhibiting these
properties and their uses.
(a) Unsaturated, saturated and (i) distinguish between the different types of
supersaturated solutions. Solubility solutions;
curves and simple deductions from (ii) interpret solubility curves;
them, (solubility defined in terms of (iii) calculate the amount of solute that can
mole per dm3) and simple dissolve in a given amount of solvent at a
calculations. given temperature;
(iv) deduce that solubility is temperature-dependent;
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(b) Solvents for fats, oil and paints (v) relate nature of solvents to their uses;
and the use of such solvents
for the removal of stains.
(c) True and False solutions (Suspensions and (vi) differentiate among true solutions,
colloids): suspensions and colloids;
Properties and examples. (vii) compare the properties of a ‘true’ solution
Harmattan haze and water paints as examples and a ‘false’ solution; and
of suspensions and fog, milk, aerosol spray, (viii) provide typical examples of suspensions
emulsion paints and rubber solution as and colloids.
examples of colloids.
(a) Sources and effects of pollutants. (i) identify the different types of pollution and
pollutants;
(b) Air pollution: (ii) specify different sources of pollutants;
Examples of air pollutants such as (iii) classify pollutants as biodegradable and
H2S, CO, SO2, oxides of nitrogen, non-biodegradable;
chlorofluorocarbons and dust. (iv) specify the effects of pollution on the
environment; and
(c) Water pollution (v) identify measures for control of
Sewage and oil pollution should be environmental pollution.
known.
(d) Soil pollution:
Oil spillage, biodegradable and
non-biodegradable pollutants.
(a) General characteristics, properties and (i) distinguish between the properties of
uses of acids, bases and salts. Acids/base acids and bases;
indicators, basicity of acids; normal, acidic, (ii) identify the different types of acids
basic and double salts. An acid defined as a and bases;
substance whose aqueous solution furnishes (iii) determine the basicity of acids;
H3O+ions or as a proton donor. Ethanoic, (iv) differentiate between acidity and
citric and tartaric acids as examples of alkalinity using acid/base indicators;
naturally occurring organic acids, alums as (v) identify the various methods of
examples of double salts, preparation of preparation of salts;
salts by neutralization, precipitation and (vi) classify different types of salts;
action of acids on metals. Oxides and
trioxocarbonate (IV) salts
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(c) pH and pOH scale; Simple calculations (ix) perform simple calculations on pH and pOH;
(a) Oxidation in terms of the addition of (i) identify the various forms of expressing
oxygen or removal of hydrogen. oxidation and reduction;
(b) Reduction as removal of oxygen or (ii) classify chemical reactions in terms of
addition of hydrogen. oxidation or reduction;
(c) Oxidation and reduction in terms of (iii) balance redox reaction equations;
electron transfer. (iv) deduce the oxidation number of chemical
(d) Use of oxidation numbers. species;
Oxidation and reduction treated as change (v) compute the number of electron transfer
in oxidation number and use of oxidation in redox reactions;
numbers in balancing simple equations.
(e) IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic (vi) identify the name of redox species in a reaction
compounds using oxidation number. (vii) distinguish between oxidizing and reducing
(f) Tests for oxidizing and reducing agents. agents in redox reactions;
(viii) apply oxidation number in naming inorganic
compounds; and
(ix) relate reagents to their oxidizing and reducing
abilities.
(a) Electrolytes and non-electrolytes. (i) distinguish between electrolytes and non-
Faraday’s laws of electrolysis. electrolytes;
(b) (i) Electrolysis of dilute H2SO4, aqueous (ii) perform calculations based on faraday as
CuSO4, CuC12 solution, dilute and mole of electrons;
concentrated NaC1 solutions and (iii) identify suitable electrodes for different
fused NaC1 electrolytes;
(ii) Factors affecting discharge of ions at (iv) specify the chemical reactions at the
the electrodes. electrodes;
(v) determine the products at the electrodes;
(vi) identify the factors that affect the products
of electrolysis;
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(a) Energy changes(∆H) accompanying physical (i) determine the types of heat changes
and chemical changes: (∆H) in physical and chemical processes;
dissolution of substances in/or (ii) interpret graphical representations of heat
reaction with water e.g. Na, NaOH, changes;
K, NH4Cl. Endothermic (+∆H) and (iii) relate the physical state of a substance
exothermic (-∆H) reactions. to the degree of orderliness;
(b) Entropy as an order-disorder (iv) determine the conditions for spontaneity
phenomenon: simple illustrations of a reaction;
like mixing of gases and dissolution (v) relate ∆H0, ∆S0 and ∆G0 as the driving
of salts. forces for chemical reactions; and
(c) Spontaneity of reactions: (vi) solve simple problems based on the
∆Gѳ = 0 as a criterion for equilibrium, ∆G relationships ∆Gѳ = ∆H0 - T∆S0
greater or less than zero as a criterion for
non-spontaneity or spontaneity respectively.
(a) Elementary treatment of the following factors (i) identify the factors that affect the rates of a
which can change the rate of a chemical chemical reaction;
reaction: (ii) determine the effects of temperature on
the rate of reactions;
(i) Temperature e.g. the reaction between HCl and
Na2S2O3 or Mg and HCl
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(ii) Concentration/pressure e.g. the reaction (iii) examine the effect of concentration/pressure on
between HCl and Na2S2O3, HCl and marble the rate of a chemical reaction;
and the iodine clock reaction, for gaseous (iv) describe how the rate of a chemical reaction is
systems, pressure may be used as affected by surface area;
concentration term.
(v) determine the types of catalysts suitable for
(iii) Surface area e.g. the reaction different reactions and their effects;
between marble and HCl with (vi) determine ways of moderating these effects in
marble in chemical reactions;
(i) powdered form
(ii) lumps of the same mass.
Reversible reactions and factors governing (i) identify the factors that affect the position
the equilibrium position. Dynamic of equilibrium of a chemical reaction;
equilibrium. Le Chatelier’s principle and (ii) predict the effects of each factor on the position
equilibrium constant. Simple examples to of equilibrium; and
include action of steam on iron and (iii) determine the effects of these factors on
N2O4 2NO2. equilibrium constant.
No calculation will be required.
(a) Hydrogen: commercial production from (i) predict reagents for the laboratory and
water gas and cracking of petroleum industrial preparation of these gases and
fractions, laboratory preparation, their compounds;
properties, uses and test for hydrogen. (ii) identify the properties of the gases and their
compounds;
(b) Halogens: Chlorine as a representative (iii) compare the properties of these gases and
element of the halogen. Laboratory their compounds;
preparation, industrial preparation by (iv) specify the uses of each gas and its
electrolysis, properties and uses, e.g. compounds;
water sterilization, bleaching, (v) determine the specific test for each gas and its
manufacture of HCl, plastics and compounds;
insecticides. (vi) determine specific tests for Cl-, SO42-, SO32-,
S2-,NH4+, NO3-, CO32-, HCO−3
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
Hydrogen chloride and Hydrochloric acid: (vii) predict the reagents for preparation,
Preparation and properties. Chlorides and test properties and uses of HCl(g) and HCl(aq);
for chlorides. (viii) identify the allotropes of oxygen;
(c) Oxygen and Sulphur (ix) determine the significance of ozone to
(i) Oxygen: our environment;
Laboratory preparation, properties and uses. (x) classify the oxides of oxygen and their
Commercial production from liquid air. properties;
Oxides: Acidic, basic, amphoteric and neutral,
trioxygen (ozone) as an allotrope and the
importance of ozone in the atmosphere. (xi) identify the allotropes of sulphur and their
(ii) Sulphur: uses;
Uses and allotropes:
preparation of allotropes is not expected. (xii) predict the reagents for preparation, properties
Preparation, properties and uses of sulphur (IV) and uses of SO2and H2S;
oxide, the reaction of SO2 with alkalis. (xiii) specify the preparations of H2SO4 and H2SO3,
Trioxosulphate (IV) acid and its salts, the effect their properties and uses;
of acids on salts of trioxosulphate (IV),
Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid: Commercial
preparation (contact process only), properties as
a dilute acid, an oxidizing and a dehydrating
agents and uses. Test for SO42-.
Hydrogen sulphide: Preparation and properties
as a weak acid, reducing and precipitating
agents. Test for S2- (xiv) specify the laboratory and industrial
(d) Nitrogen: preparation of NH3;
(i) Laboratory preparation
(ii) Production from liquid air (xv) identify the properties and uses of NH3;
(iii) Ammonia:
Laboratory and industrial
preparations (Haber Process only),
properties and uses, ammonium salts
and their uses, oxidation of
ammonia to nitrogen (IV)
oxide and trioxonitrate (V) acid.
Test for NH4+
(iv) Trioxonitrate (V) acid: (xvi) identify reagents for the laboratory
Laboratory preparation from ammonia; preparation of HNO3, its properties and
properties and uses. Trioxonitrate (V) salt- uses;
action of heat and uses. Test for NO3- (xvii) specify the properties of N2O, NO, NO2 gases.
(v) Oxides of nitrogen: Properties.
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(a) General properties of metals (i) specify the general properties of metals;
(ii) determine the method of extraction suitable
(b) Alkali metals e.g. sodium for each metal;
(i) Sodium hydroxide:- (iii) relate the methods of extraction to the
Production by electrolysis of brine, its action properties for the metals;
on aluminium, zinc and lead ions. (iv) compare the chemical reactivities of the metals;
Uses including precipitation of metallic (v) specify the uses of the metals;
hydroxides. (vi) determine specific test for metallic ions;
(ii) Sodium trioxocarbonate (IV) (vii) determine the process for the production
and sodium hydrogen trioxocarbonate (IV): of the compounds of these metals;
Production by Solvay process, properties (viii) compare the chemical reactivities of the
and uses, e.g. Na2CO3 in the manufacture of compounds;
glass. (ix) specify the uses of these compounds;
(iii) Sodium chloride: its occurrence in (x) specify the chemical composition of cement.
sea water and uses, the economic
importance of sea water and the
recovery of sodium chloride.
(c) Alkaline-earth metals, e.g. calcium;
calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide
and calcium trioxocarbonate (IV);
Properties and uses. Preparation of
calcium oxide from sea shells, the
chemical composition of cement
and the setting of mortar. Test for Ca2+.
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
An introduction to the tetravalency of (i) derive the name of organic compounds from
carbon, the general formula, IUPAC their general formulae;
nomenclature and the determination of (ii) relate the name of a compound to its structure;
empirical formula of each class of the (iii) relate the tetravalency of carbon to its ability
organic compounds mentioned below. to form chains of compound (catenation);
(iv) classify compounds according to their
(a) Aliphatic hydrocarbons functional groups;
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(ii) Alkenes
Isomerism: structural and geometric
isomerism, additional and (xv) distinguish between various polymerization
polymerization reactions, polythene processes;
and synthetic rubber as examples of (xvi) specify the process involved in vulcanization;
products of polymerization and its use
in vulcanization.
(iii) Alkynes
Ethyne – production from action of (xvii) specify chemical test for terminal alkynes;
water on carbides, simple reactions and
properties of ethyne.
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Chemistry
TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES
(f) Alkanoates
Formation from alkanoic acids and
alkanols – fats and oils as alkanoates. (xxvi) identify natural sources of alkanoates;
Saponification:
Production of soap and margarine from (xxvii) specify the methods for the production of
alkanoates and distinction between soap, detergent and margarine;
detergents and soaps. (xxviii) distinguish between detergent and soap;
Chemical industries: Types, raw materials and (i) classify chemical industries in terms of
relevance; Biotechnology. products;
(ii) identify raw materials for each industry;
(iii) distinguish between fine and heavy
chemicals;
(iv) enumerate the relevance of each of these
industries; and
(v) relate industrial processes to biotechnology.
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Chemistry
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
1. Ababio, O. Y. (2009).New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools (Fourth edition),
Onitsha: Africana FIRST Publishers Limited.
2. Bajah, S.T.; Teibo, B. O., Onwu, G.; and Obikwere, A. Book 1 (1999).Senior Secondary Chemistry,
Books 2 and 3 (2000). Lagos: Longman.
3. Ojokuku, G. O. (2012). Understanding Chemistry for Schools and Colleges, (Revised Edition),
Zaria: Press-On Chemresources.
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