In short: Chemistry reactions carry 15-20 marks in CBSE Class 12 board exam. This guide covers all important reactions from Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry — organized chapter-wise for quick revision.
Unit 1: Solid State
Defects in Solids
Schottky Defect: Equal number of cations and anions missing
- Density decreases
- Example: NaCl, KCl, AgBr
Frenkel Defect: Ion displaced to interstitial site
- Density remains same
- Example: AgCl, AgBr, ZnS
Unit 2: Solutions
Colligative Properties Formulas
Relative Lowering of Vapour Pressure
(P° - P)/P° = n₂/(n₁ + n₂) ≈ n₂/n₁ (for dilute solutions)
Elevation in Boiling Point
ΔTb = Kb × m
Kb = RT²M/(1000 × ΔHvap)
Depression in Freezing Point
ΔTf = Kf × m
Osmotic Pressure
π = CRT = (n/V)RT
Van't Hoff Factor
i = (Observed colligative property)/(Calculated colligative property)
Unit 3: Electrochemistry
Important Equations
Nernst Equation
E = E° - (RT/nF) ln Q
E = E° - (0.059/n) log Q (at 298K)
Relationship between ΔG and E
ΔG° = -nFE°
Conductivity
κ = 1/ρ (Unit: S/m)
Molar Conductivity
Λm = κ × 1000/M (Unit: S cm² mol⁻¹)
Kohlrausch's Law
Λ°m = λ°+ + λ°-
Faraday's Laws
m = ZIt = (M × I × t)/(n × F)
F = 96500 C/mol
Unit 4: Chemical Kinetics
Rate Equations
Zero Order
[A] = [A]₀ - kt
t½ = [A]₀/2k
First Order
ln[A] = ln[A]₀ - kt
k = (2.303/t) log([A]₀/[A])
t½ = 0.693/k
Arrhenius Equation
k = Ae^(-Ea/RT)
log(k₂/k₁) = (Ea/2.303R)(1/T₁ - 1/T₂)
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Unit 5: Surface Chemistry
Adsorption Isotherms
Freundlich Isotherm
x/m = kP^(1/n)
log(x/m) = log k + (1/n)log P
Langmuir Isotherm
x/m = (aP)/(1 + bP)
Unit 6: p-Block Elements (Groups 15-18)
Group 15 Reactions
Ammonia Preparation
2NH₄Cl + Ca(OH)₂ → CaCl₂ + 2H₂O + 2NH₃↑
Haber Process
N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ (Fe catalyst, 450°C, 200 atm)
Ostwald Process (HNO₃)
4NH₃ + 5O₂ → 4NO + 6H₂O (Pt catalyst)
2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂
3NO₂ + H₂O → 2HNO₃ + NO
Phosphorus Reactions
P₄ + 3O₂ → P₄O₆ (limited O₂)
P₄ + 5O₂ → P₄O₁₀ (excess O₂)
P₄O₁₀ + 6H₂O → 4H₃PO₄
Group 16 Reactions
Contact Process (H₂SO₄)
S + O₂ → SO₂
2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃ (V₂O₅ catalyst)
SO₃ + H₂SO₄ → H₂S₂O₇ (Oleum)
H₂S₂O₇ + H₂O → 2H₂SO₄
Ozone Reactions
3O₂ → 2O₃ (UV light)
O₃ + 2KI + H₂O → 2KOH + I₂ + O₂
Group 17 Reactions
Chlorine Preparation
MnO₂ + 4HCl → MnCl₂ + Cl₂ + 2H₂O
2KMnO₄ + 16HCl → 2KCl + 2MnCl₂ + 8H₂O + 5Cl₂
Bleaching Action
Cl₂ + H₂O → HCl + HOCl
HOCl → HCl + [O] (nascent oxygen bleaches)
Group 18 (Noble Gases)
Xenon Compounds
Xe + F₂ → XeF₂ (1:1, 400°C)
Xe + 2F₂ → XeF₄ (1:5, 400°C)
Xe + 3F₂ → XeF₆ (1:20, 300°C)
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Unit 7: d and f Block Elements
Important Reactions
Potassium Dichromate
K₂Cr₂O₇ + 4H₂SO₄ + 3SO₂ → K₂SO₄ + Cr₂(SO₄)₃ + 4H₂O
K₂Cr₂O₇ + 14HCl → 2KCl + 2CrCl₃ + 7H₂O + 3Cl₂
Potassium Permanganate
2KMnO₄ + 3H₂SO₄ + 5H₂C₂O₄ → K₂SO₄ + 2MnSO₄ + 8H₂O + 10CO₂
2KMnO₄ + 5FeSO₄ + 8H₂SO₄ → K₂SO₄ + 2MnSO₄ + 5Fe₂(SO₄)₃ + 8H₂O
Unit 8: Coordination Compounds
Nomenclature Rules
- Cation before anion
- Ligands in alphabetical order
- Oxidation state in Roman numerals
Examples:
- [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ — Hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride
- K₄[Fe(CN)₆] — Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II)
- [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] — Diamminedichloridoplatinum(II)
Unit 9: Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions
SN1 Mechanism (Tertiary halides)
(CH₃)₃C-Br + OH⁻ → (CH₃)₃C-OH + Br⁻
Rate = k[RX]
SN2 Mechanism (Primary halides)
CH₃-Br + OH⁻ → CH₃-OH + Br⁻
Rate = k[RX][Nu⁻]
Important Named Reactions
Wurtz Reaction
2R-X + 2Na → R-R + 2NaX (dry ether)
Example: 2CH₃Br + 2Na → C₂H₆ + 2NaBr
Wurtz-Fittig Reaction
C₆H₅Br + CH₃Br + 2Na → C₆H₅-CH₃ + 2NaBr
Fittig Reaction
2C₆H₅Br + 2Na → C₆H₅-C₆H₅ + 2NaBr
Finkelstein Reaction
R-Cl + NaI → R-I + NaCl (acetone)
Swarts Reaction
R-Cl + AgF → R-F + AgCl
Unit 10: Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
Alcohol Reactions
Dehydration
C₂H₅OH → C₂H₄ + H₂O (conc. H₂SO₄, 170°C)
2C₂H₅OH → C₂H₅-O-C₂H₅ + H₂O (conc. H₂SO₄, 140°C)
Oxidation
CH₃CH₂OH + [O] → CH₃CHO + H₂O (PCC)
CH₃CH₂OH + 2[O] → CH₃COOH + H₂O (K₂Cr₂O₇/H⁺)
Phenol Reactions
Kolbe's Reaction
C₆H₅ONa + CO₂ + H₂O → o-HOC₆H₄COOH + NaOH (125°C, 4-7 atm)
Reimer-Tiemann Reaction
C₆H₅OH + CHCl₃ + 3NaOH → o-HOC₆H₄CHO + 3NaCl + 2H₂O
Williamson Synthesis
C₆H₅ONa + C₂H₅Br → C₆H₅OC₂H₅ + NaBr
Unit 11: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
Aldehyde/Ketone Reactions
Aldol Condensation
2CH₃CHO → CH₃CH(OH)CH₂CHO (dilute NaOH)
→ CH₃CH=CHCHO + H₂O (heat)
Cannizzaro Reaction (aldehydes without α-H)
2HCHO + NaOH → HCOONa + CH₃OH
2C₆H₅CHO + NaOH → C₆H₅COONa + C₆H₅CH₂OH
Clemmensen Reduction
R-CO-R' + Zn-Hg/HCl → R-CH₂-R'
Wolff-Kishner Reduction
R-CO-R' + N₂H₄ + KOH → R-CH₂-R' + N₂ + H₂O
Carboxylic Acid Reactions
Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky Reaction
R-CH₂-COOH + Br₂/P → R-CHBr-COOH + HBr
Decarboxylation
R-COONa + NaOH → R-H + Na₂CO₃ (CaO, heat)
Kolbe Electrolysis
2CH₃COONa + 2H₂O → C₂H₆ + 2CO₂ + 2NaOH + H₂
Unit 12: Amines
Preparation
Hoffmann Bromamide Reaction
R-CONH₂ + Br₂ + 4NaOH → R-NH₂ + Na₂CO₃ + 2NaBr + 2H₂O
Gabriel Phthalimide Synthesis
Phthalimide + KOH → Potassium phthalimide
Potassium phthalimide + R-X → N-alkyl phthalimide
N-alkyl phthalimide + NaOH/H₂O → R-NH₂ + Phthalic acid
Reactions
Carbylamine Reaction (Test for 1° amines)
R-NH₂ + CHCl₃ + 3KOH → R-NC + 3KCl + 3H₂O
Diazotization
C₆H₅NH₂ + NaNO₂ + 2HCl → C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + NaCl + 2H₂O (0-5°C)
Sandmeyer Reaction
C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + CuCl → C₆H₅Cl + N₂
C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + CuBr → C₆H₅Br + N₂
C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + CuCN → C₆H₅CN + N₂
Gattermann Reaction
C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ + Cu/HCl → C₆H₅Cl + N₂
Unit 13: Biomolecules
Carbohydrate Reactions
Benedict's Test (Reducing sugars)
Glucose + Cu²⁺ (alkaline) → Red ppt of Cu₂O
Tollens' Test
Glucose + [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ → Silver mirror
Quick Reference: Named Reactions
| Reaction | Reagent | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Wurtz | 2Na, dry ether | R-R (alkane) |
| Kolbe's | CO₂, NaOH | Salicylic acid |
| Reimer-Tiemann | CHCl₃, NaOH | Salicylaldehyde |
| Aldol | Dilute NaOH | β-hydroxy aldehyde |
| Cannizzaro | Conc. NaOH | Alcohol + Acid salt |
| Clemmensen | Zn-Hg/HCl | Alkane |
| Wolff-Kishner | N₂H₄/KOH | Alkane |
| Hoffmann | Br₂/NaOH | 1° amine |
| Sandmeyer | CuX | Aryl halide |
| HVZ | Br₂/P | α-bromo acid |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many reactions should I memorize for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry?
Around 50-60 important reactions. Focus on Named Reactions (Wurtz, Aldol, Cannizzaro, etc.) and mechanism-based reactions.
Which chapters have the most reactions?
- Haloalkanes and Haloarenes — 10+ reactions
- Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers — 10+ reactions
- Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids — 15+ reactions
- Amines — 10+ reactions
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