ICSE class 10 chemistry is the CISCE board science subject for Grade 10 β covering nine structured chapters examined in the annual board paper. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) designs the syllabus, ensuring depth in both theory and practical application. ICSE Chemistry is widely regarded as more concept-intensive than many state board equivalents, with topics such as Electrolysis and Organic Chemistry appearing every year. On this page, you will find the full syllabus breakdown, chapter-wise notes, previous year question papers, and completely free PDF study materials for 2026-27.
On This Page
Free ICSE Class 10 Chemistry PDF Downloads
All PDFs listed below are sourced from CISCE-aligned content and cover Selina Concise Chemistry solutions, board question papers, and sample papers β updated for the 2026-27 and 2026-27 academic sessions. Each file is free to download and requires no login.
| Chapter | Topic | Download PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Periodic Table | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 2 | Chemical Bonding | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 3 | Study of Acids Bases and Salts | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 4 | Analytical Chemistry | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 5 | Mole Concept and Stoichiometry | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 6 | Electrolysis | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 7 | Metallurgy | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 8 | Hydrogen Chloride | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 9 | Ammonia | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 10 | Nitric Acid | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 11 | Sulphuric Acid | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 12 | Organic Chemistry | Download PDF β |
| Chapter 13 | Practical Work | Download PDF β |
ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Syllabus and Curriculum Structure
The ICSE class 10 chemistry syllabus is prescribed by CISCE and is divided into nine chapters. Each chapter is designed to build on prior knowledge from Class 9, progressing from atomic structure through to organic compounds. The board examines both theoretical understanding and the ability to interpret data, write balanced equations, and apply concepts to practical situations.
ICSE Chemistry places particular emphasis on numericals, ionic equations, and laboratory-based questions. Students are expected to demonstrate precision in language β a key differentiator from many other board examinations. Below is a chapter-wise overview of the curriculum:
The ICSE Class 10 Chemistry curriculum includes the following chapters:
- Chapter 1: Periodic Table β periodicity of properties, groups, periods, and CISCE examination trends
- Chapter 2: Chemical Bonding β ionic and covalent bonds, electron-dot structures, and examples from past papers
- Chapter 3: Acids, Bases and Salts β pH scale, neutralisation, and preparation of salts commonly tested in board exams
- Chapter 4: Analytical Chemistry β identification of cations and anions, a frequent 5-mark question in ICSE papers
- Chapter 5: Mole Concept and Stoichiometry β molar mass, Avogadro’s number, and calculation-based problems
- Chapter 6: Electrolysis β electrolytic cells, commercial applications, and half-equations β among the highest-weightage topics
- Chapter 7: Metallurgy β extraction of metals, activity series, and real-world industrial connections
- Chapter 8: Study of Compounds β preparation and properties of ammonia and nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sulphuric acid
- Chapter 9: Organic Chemistry β homologous series, hydrocarbons, and functional groups tested every year
Recommended ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Book
The most widely used ICSE class 10 chemistry book is Selina Concise Chemistry for Class 10, published by Selina Publishers. It is fully aligned with the CISCE syllabus and provides clear theory, worked examples, and a large bank of practice questions for every chapter. Most ICSE schools prescribe this as the primary textbook.
Other popular references include Frank Brothers ICSE Chemistry and S. Chand’s ICSE Chemistry, which offer additional solved examples and revision exercises. For students seeking concise revision aids, S. Chand’s companion guides work well alongside Selina. The table below compares the main reference books available for ICSE Chemistry:
| Book Title | Publisher | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Selina Concise Chemistry Class 10 | Selina Publishers | Primary textbook, chapter exercises, board exam prep |
| Frank Brothers ICSE Chemistry | Frank Brothers | Additional practice questions and concept reinforcement |
| S. Chand ICSE Chemistry | S. Chand | Supplementary theory and quick revision |
ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Notes β Chapter-wise
Well-structured ICSE class 10 chemistry notes reduce revision time significantly by consolidating definitions, reactions, and diagrams in one place. Our chapter-wise notes are prepared in alignment with the Selina Concise textbook and the CISCE marking scheme, so every answer follows the format examiners expect.
Each set of notes covers key definitions, important reactions with balanced equations, common examiner errors to avoid, and memory aids for topics like the activity series and organic nomenclature. Topics such as Electrolysis and Organic Chemistry receive extended coverage because they carry the highest marks in past ICSE board papers.
Students preparing for the ICSE board examination should prioritise the following areas within their revision notes:
- Electrolysis half-equations β required for both 2-mark and 5-mark board questions
- Preparation and properties of ammonia β diagrams and industrial context are frequently awarded marks
- Mole concept numericals β step-by-step working must be shown to earn full marks
- Periodic Table trends β electronegativity, atomic radius, and ionisation energy patterns
- Organic Chemistry homologous series β IUPAC naming and functional group identification
ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Question Papers and Sample Papers
Practising with the ICSE class 10 chemistry previous year question papers is one of the most effective preparation strategies recommended by ICSE educators. Past papers reveal recurring question types, the exact phrasing CISCE examiners use, and the distribution of marks across chapters. Papers from 2015 to 2024 are available as free PDFs on this page.
ICSE class 10 chemistry sample papers are equally valuable β they simulate the actual board paper format, including the compulsory Section A (40 marks, objective and short answer) and Section B (40 marks, long answer). Completing at least five sample papers under timed conditions is the standard advice from CISCE-experienced teachers.
When working through question papers, follow this approach to maximise your score:
- Attempt Section A first β it carries 40 marks and is compulsory; do not leave any question unanswered.
- Choose Section B questions carefully β you must answer four out of six; select topics where you are strongest.
- Write balanced equations completely β partial equations score zero in ICSE marking.
- Label diagrams clearly β unlabelled diagrams receive no marks even if the drawing is accurate.
- Review ionic equations separately β they account for a dedicated portion of marks in Electrolysis and Study of Compounds questions.
ICSE Board Class 10 Chemistry Marking Scheme Explained
The ICSE board class 10 chemistry examination is a written paper of 80 marks, conducted over two hours. An additional 20 marks are awarded for internal assessment, making the subject worth 100 marks in total. CISCE does not release the internal assessment marks in the final mark sheet separately β only the combined grade appears.
The written paper is divided into two sections. The table below summarises the structure examiners follow:
| Section | Marks | Question Type | Compulsory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | 40 | MCQ, short answer, fill-in-the-blanks, match the column | Yes β all questions |
| Section B | 40 | Long answer (6 questions, attempt 4) | Partial (4 of 6) |
| Internal Assessment | 20 | Practical work and project | Yes β school assessed |
CISCE publishes the official marking scheme alongside model answers after each board examination. These are invaluable for understanding exactly how marks are allocated β particularly for equation-writing and diagram questions where step marks apply. Download the marking scheme PDFs from the section above to review the official answers alongside your practice paper attempts.
Related ICSE Resources
Explore: Class 10 Maths, Class 10 Physics, Class 10 Biology, Class 9 Chemistry, and ICSE Class 10 β All Subjects for a complete set of free PDF study materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
ICSE class 10 chemistry rewards students who combine strong conceptual understanding with consistent practice on past papers β bookmark this page to access updated PDFs each time CISCE revises the syllabus or releases new question papers. All resources are reviewed and refreshed for the 2026-27 and 2026-27 sessions so you always have the most current materials at hand.