UPSC Civil Services (Mains)
Chemistry optional
- 2 papers
- 250 marks each
- 3 h per paper
- 5 of 8 questions, Q1 and Q5 compulsory
Paper I covers physical and inorganic chemistry.
All years

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Paper I, physical and inorganic chemistry
Solution, 2018
UPSC Civil Services (Mains), Chemistry optional. 55 pages. All eight questions are answered.
Every question of 2018, one page each53 parts in 8 questions, with the question as text and its full model answer
Question 1 50 marks
- 1(a)Particle in a box: probability in the centre half10 marks
- 1(b)Δ U for heating one mole of water from 25 to 30°C10 marks
- 1(c)(i)ΔᵣG° for the formation of MgO at 0°C5 marks
- 1(c)(ii)Temperature at which the spontaneity switches5 marks
- 1(d)(i)BeF₂ linear, SF₂ angular5 marks
- 1(d)(ii)P forms PCl₃ and PCl₅; N forms only NCl₃5 marks
- 1(e)Spontaneity of four redox reactions from E°10 marks
Question 2 50 marks
- 2(a)(i)Orbital and probability density5 marks
- 2(a)(ii)Radial, angular and total nodes5 marks
- 2(a)(iii)If Planck's constant were zero5 marks
- 2(b)(i)Significance of the Kelvin equation5 marks
- 2(b)(ii)Effect of temperature on viscosity5 marks
- 2(c)Bond orders of H₂⁺, Ne₂, CN⁻, NO and HF; order of stability15 marks
- 2(d)(i)Derivation of Bragg's equation5 marks
- 2(d)(ii)Number of K⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in 1.00 g of KCl5 marks
Question 3 50 marks
- 3(a)(i)First law and the cooling of rising clouds5 marks
- 3(a)(ii)Reversible work along two different paths10 marks
- 3(b)Two phases in thermal equilibrium have the same temperature10 marks
- 3(c)(i)Galvanic cell and concentration cell5 marks
- 3(c)(ii)Transport number of Ag⁺ by the Hittorf method10 marks
- 3(d)Capillary action of water and mercury in tubes of two radii10 marks
Question 4 50 marks
- 4(a)(i)Crystal defects; stoichiometric defects10 marks
- 4(a)(ii)Conduction in semiconductors5 marks
- 4(b)(i)Why PVᵞ is constant in an adiabatic and PV in an isothermal change5 marks
- 4(b)(ii)Cold air descending into a valley5 marks
- 4(c)(i)Effusion of H₂ and N₂ through a fine glass filter10 marks
- 4(c)(ii)Vapour and gas from the critical temperature5 marks
- 4(d)(i)Slopes of the fusion and sublimation curves of water5 marks
- 4(d)(ii)Three liquid–liquid phase diagrams5 marks
Question 5 50 marks
Question 6 50 marks
- 6(a)(i)Effect of temperature on the rate constant5 marks
- 6(a)(ii)Alkaline hydrolysis of ethyl acetate is second order10 marks
- 6(b)(i)Fluorescence and phosphorescence5 marks
- 6(b)(ii)Quantum yield of the photobromination of cinnamic acid5 marks
- 6(c)(i)Geometry of [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ by valence bond theory5 marks
- 6(c)(ii)Orgel-diagram assignment of the bands of [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺; 10Dq10 marks
- 6(d)Diborane: industrial synthesis, structure and B–H bonds10 marks
Question 7 50 marks
- 7(a)(i)BET equation and the surface area of a solid10 marks
- 7(a)(ii)Mechanism of heterogeneous catalysis5 marks
- 7(b)Active sites of [2Fe–2S] and [4Fe–4S] ferredoxins10 marks
- 7(c)(i)Why +3 is the common oxidation state of lanthanoids5 marks
- 7(c)(ii)Effective magnetic moment of Ce³⁺10 marks
- 7(d)Two isomers of [PtBrCl(NH₃)(py)] from [PtCl₄]²⁻ by the trans effect10 marks
Question 8 50 marks
- 8(a)(i)Products of four interhalogen reactions10 marks
- 8(a)(ii)Number of Re–Re bonds in [Re₂Cl₈]²⁻5 marks
- 8(b)(i)Einstein's law of photochemical equivalence5 marks
- 8(b)(ii)The photochemical reaction of hydrogen and chlorine5 marks
- 8(c)Active sites and functions of cytochrome c and cytochrome P-45015 marks
- 8(d)Stereoisomers of [PtCl₂Br₂(NH₃)₂]10 marks






















































