ICSE Class 10 Chemistry 2025 Syllabus | Download PDF | Chapter Wise Topics | Previous Year Papers

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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated on - Sep 5, 2025

The ICSE Class 10 Chemistry syllabus for 2024-25 includes important topics like Periodic Properties, Chemical Bonding, Acids, Bases, Salts, Mole Concepts, Electrolysis, Metallurgy, Organic Chemistry, and more.

The theory exam is for 80 marks, with 20 marks allocated for practicals, which involve simple experiments and identifying gases and ions. Some advanced topics like orbital structure, refining of aluminum, and preparation of acetic acid have been removed to simplify the syllabus. Chapters like Study of Compounds (15 marks) and Organic Chemistry (12 marks) carry the most weightage, making them important for students to focus on. The exam has two sections: compulsory short questions and a choice-based long-answer section, ensuring a fair test of knowledge and skills.

Syllabus Weightage

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus Chapter-wise Weightage

There are no specific chapter-wise weightage criteria for the chemistry. Based on the past few years' trends, here’s an overview:

Chapters Marks
Periodic Properties and Variations of Properties 12
Chemical Bonding 4
Study of Acids, Bases, and Salts 8
Analytical Chemistry 9
Mole Concept and Stoichiometry 6
Electrolysis 4
Metallurgy 10
Study of Compounds 15
Organic Chemistry 12
Total 80

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Chemistry Exam Pattern

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Exam Pattern 2024-25

The ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Exam is conducted in two parts:

  1. Theory Paper
  2. Internal Assessment of Practical Work

Exam Details:

  • Theory Paper Marks: 80
  • Internal Assessment Marks: 20

Theory Paper Structure:

The theory paper is divided into two sections:

  • Section I: Short questions (Compulsory)

    • Marks: 40
    • Number of Questions: Multiple
    • All questions must be attempted.

  • Section II: Long answer questions (Choice-based)

    • Marks: 40
    • Number of Questions: 6
    • Number of Questions to be attempted: 4 (Out of 6)

Internal Evaluation

Evaluation Process of the Internal Marks

Assignments or project work in ICSE are assessed by two examiners:

  1. Subject Teacher (Internal Examiner) – The teacher who teaches the subject to the class.
  2. External Examiner – A teacher appointed by the Head of the school, who is not the teacher of that particular class but could be from the same faculty. For example, a Class VIII Chemistry teacher could be assigned to assess Class X Chemistry projects.

Both examiners will evaluate the assignments separately.

Marks Distribution (Total 20 Marks):

  • Internal Examiner (Subject Teacher): 10 marks
  • External Examiner: 10 marks

The total marks out of 20 are submitted to CISCE by the school Head.

The Head of the School is responsible for entering the final marks on the CISCE’s CAREERS portal by the specified due date.

Previous Year Question Paper

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Previous Year Question Papers

PYQs of Chemistry Class 10 for the last few years are listed below:

Year Question Paper
2024 Check Here
2023 Check Here
2020 Check Here
2019 Check Here
2018 Check Here
2017 Check Here
Chemistry Detailed Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus

UNIT SUB-UNIT
Periodic Properties and Variations of Properties - Physical and Chemical
  • Periodic properties and their variations in groups and periods.
  • Periodicity based on atomic number for elements.
Chemical Bonding
  • Electrovalent bonding.
  • Covalent bonding.
  • Coordinate bonding.
Study of Acids, Bases, and Salts
  • Simple definitions, classification, and characteristic properties.
  • Ions present in mineral acids, alkalis, and salts and their solutions; use of litmus and pH paper to test for acidity and alkalinity.
  • Definition and types of salts.
  • Action of dilute acids on salts.
  • Methods of preparation of normal salts with relevant equations (details of apparatus/procedures not required).
Analytical Chemistry
  • Action of Ammonium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide on solutions of salts: Color of salt and its solution; formation and color of hydroxide precipitated for salts of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb; special action of ammonium hydroxide on copper salt solutions and sodium hydroxide on ammonium salts.
  • Action of alkalis (NaOH, KOH) on certain metals, their oxides, and hydroxides.
Mole Concept and Stoichiometry
  • Gay Lussac’s Law of Combining Volumes; Avogadro’s Law.
  • Atomicity of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and chlorine (proof not required).
  • Vapour Density and its relation to relative molecular mass.
  • Mole and its relation to mass.
  • Simple calculations based on chemical equations.
Electrolysis
  • Electrolytes and non-electrolytes. Substances containing molecules only, ions only, both molecules and ions.
  • Definition and explanation of electrolysis, electrolyte, electrode, anode, cathode, anion, cation, oxidation, and reduction (based on loss and gain of electrons).
  • Study of ion migration, factors influencing the selective discharge of ions (with reference to the activity series for metals like Na, Mg, Fe, Cu). Applications of electrolysis.
Metallurgy
  • Occurrence of metals in nature.
  • Stages involved in the extraction of metals.
  • Extraction of Aluminium.
  • Alloys – composition and uses.
Study of Compounds
  • Hydrogen Chloride.
  • Ammonia. Nitric Acid.
  • Sulphuric Acid.
Organic Chemistry
  • Introduction to organic compounds.
  • Structure and isomerism.
  • Homologous series – characteristics with examples. Simple nomenclature.
  • Hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes.
  • Alcohols: ethanol – preparation, properties, and uses.
  • Carboxylic acids (monocarboxylic acid): Acetic acid – properties and uses.

PRACTICAL WORK

The practical assessment for ICSE Class 10 Chemistry involves observing the effects of reagents or heat on various substances. Candidates will be required to recognize and identify specific gases and ions as part of the exam. The examiners may choose substances that contain ions from the list below, but they are not restricted to only these.

  • Gases: Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, Chlorine, Hydrogen chloride, Sulphur dioxide, Hydrogen sulphide, Ammonia, Water vapour, Nitrogen dioxide.
  • Ions: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Zinc and Ammonium, Carbonate, Chloride, Nitrate, Sulphide, Sulphite and Sulphate.

Minimum Practical Work to be Completed:

Practical Exercise Details
1. Action of heat on substances a) Copper carbonate, zinc carbonate b) Zinc nitrate, copper nitrate, lead nitrate Objective: Make observations, identify the products, and make deductions. (Equations not required)
2. Make a solution of an unknown substance Add sodium hydroxide solution or ammonium hydroxide solution. Make observations and deduce the results. Warming may be required. Substances to choose from: Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, NH₄⁺
3. Testing acidity and basicity Supply solutions of a dilute acid and alkali. Determine which is acidic and which is basic. Provide two tests for each.
4. Action of concentrated hydrochloric acid Add concentrated hydrochloric acid to given substances. Warm the mixture, make observations, and identify any product. Substances to test: a) Copper oxide b) Manganese dioxide
Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Ques. How many chapters are there in ICSE Class 10 Chemistry?

Ans. The ICSE Class 10 Chemistry syllabus consists of 9 chapters. These chapters cover important topics like Periodic Properties and Chemical Bonding, Acids, Bases, and Salts, Electrolysis, Metallurgy, and Organic Chemistry.

Ques. Is ICSE Class 10 Chemistry hard?

Ans. ICSE Class 10 Chemistry can be challenging due to its broad syllabus, which includes topics like chemical bonding, mole concept, and organic chemistry. These topics require solid understanding and regular practice, especially for numerical problems and practical experiments. Topics like electrolysis and stoichiometry can be tricky, but with consistent study and lab practice, students can manage effectively. The difficulty level varies depending on preparation, but the pass percentage is above 85%.

Ques. How will internal marks be evaluated in ICSE Class 10 Chemistry?

Ans. In ICSE Class 10 Chemistry, internal marks (20 marks) are based on practical assessments. These marks are divided equally between the internal examiner (subject teacher) and an external examiner, with each awarding 10 marks. The evaluation includes experiments such as identifying gases and ions, conducting chemical reactions, and preparing solutions. Marks are submitted to CISCE through the school head, who also enters them online on the CISCE CAREERS portal.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

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