Science Curriculum, Subject Code – 086
Classes X (2025-26)
Course Structure – Class X (2025-26)
Time: 03 Hours Marks: 80
| Unit No. | Unit | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I | Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour | 25 |
| II | World of Living | 25 |
| III | Natural Phenomena | 12 |
| IV | Effects of Current | 13 |
| V | Natural Resources | 05 |
| Total | 80 | |
| Internal assessment | 20 | |
| Grand Total | 100 |
Unit I: Chemical Substances – Nature and Behaviour
Theme: Materials
- Chemical Reactions and Equations: Chemical reactions, Chemical equation, Balanced chemical equation, types of chemical reactions: combination, decomposition, displacement, double displacement, precipitation, endothermic exothermic reactions, oxidation and reduction.
- Acids, Bases and Salts: Acids and Bases – definitions in terms of furnishing of H+ and OH- ions, identification using indicators, chemical properties, examples and uses, neutralization, concept of pH scale (Definition relating to logarithm not required), importance of pH in everyday life; preparation and uses of Sodium Hydroxide, Bleaching powder, Baking soda, Washing soda, and Plaster of Paris.
- Metals and Non-metals: Properties of metals and non-metals; Reactivity series; Formation and properties of ionic compounds; Basic metallurgical processes; Corrosion and its prevention.
- Carbon and its Compounds: Covalent bonds – formation and properties of covalent compounds, Versatile nature of carbon, Hydrocarbons – saturated and unsaturated Homologous series. Nomenclature of alkanes, alkenes, alkyne, and carbon compounds containing functional groups (halogens, alcohol, ketones, aldehydes). Chemical properties of carbon compounds (combustion, oxidation, addition, and substitution reaction). Ethanol and Ethanoic acid (only properties and uses), soaps and detergents.
Unit II: World of Living
Theme: The World of the Living
- Life Processes: ‘Living Being’. Basic concept of nutrition, respiration, transport, and excretion in plants and animals.
- Control and Co-ordination in Animals and Plants: Tropic movements in plants; Introduction of plant hormones; Control and co-ordination in animals: Nervous system; Voluntary, involuntary, and reflex action; Chemical co-ordination: animal hormones.
- Reproduction: Reproduction in animals and plants (asexual and sexual) reproductive health – need and methods of family planning. Safe sex vs HIV/AIDS. Childbearing and women’s health.
- Heredity and Evolution: Heredity; Mendel’s contribution – Laws for inheritance of traits: Sex determination; brief introduction.
Unit III: Natural Phenomena
Theme: Natural Phenomena
- Reflection of Light by Curved Surfaces: Images formed by spherical mirrors, centre of curvature, principal axis, principal focus, focal length, mirror formula (Derivation not required), magnification.
- Refraction: Laws of refraction, refractive index.
- Refraction of Light by Spherical Lens: Image formed by spherical lenses; Lens formula (Derivation not required); Magnification. Power of a lens.
- Functioning of a Lens in Human Eye: Defects of vision and their corrections, applications of spherical mirrors and lenses.
- Refraction of Light Through a Prism: Dispersion of light, scattering of light, applications in daily life (excluding colour of the sun at sunrise and sunset).
Unit IV: Effects of Current
Theme: How Things Work
- Electric Current: Potential difference and electric current. Ohm’s law; Resistance, Resistivity, Factors on which the resistance of a conductor depends. Series combination of resistors, parallel combination of resistors, and its applications in daily life. Heating effect of electric current and its applications in daily life. Electric power, Interrelation between P, V, I, and R.
- Magnetic Effects of Current: Magnetic field, field lines, field due to a current-carrying conductor, field due to current-carrying coil or solenoid; Force on current-carrying conductor, Fleming’s Left Hand Rule, Direct current. Alternating current: frequency of AC. Advantage of AC over DC. Domestic electric circuits.
Unit V: Natural Resources
Theme: Natural Resources
- Our Environment: Eco-system, Environmental problems, Ozone depletion, waste production, and their solutions. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances.
Practicals – Class X
Practicals should be conducted alongside the concepts taught in theory classes.
List of Experiments
- A. Finding the pH of the following samples by using pH paper/universal indicator: (Unit-I)
- a) Dilute Hydrochloric Acid
- b) Dilute NaOH solution
- c) Dilute Ethanoic Acid solution
- d) Lemon juice
- e) Water
- f) Dilute Hydrogen Carbonate solution
B. Studying the properties of acids and bases (HCl & NaOH) on the basis of their reaction with: (Unit-I)
- a) Litmus solution (Blue/Red)
- b) Zinc metal
- c) Solid sodium carbonate
- Performing and observing the following reactions and classifying them into: (Unit-I)
- a) Combination reaction
- b) Decomposition reaction
- c) Displacement reaction
- d) Double displacement reaction
- Action of water on quicklime
- Action of heat on ferrous sulphate crystals
- Iron nails kept in copper sulphate solution
- Reaction between sodium sulphate and barium chloride solutions
- Observing the action of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al metals on the following salt solutions: (Unit-I)
- a) ZnSO4(aq)
- b) FeSO4(aq)
- c) CuSO4(aq)
- d) Al2(SO4)3(aq)
Arranging Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al (metals) in the decreasing order of reactivity based on the above result.
- Studying the dependence of potential difference (V) across a resistor on the current (I) passing through it and determine its resistance. Also plotting a graph between V and I. (Unit-IV)
- Determination of the equivalent resistance of two resistors when connected in series and parallel. (Unit-IV)
- Preparing a temporary mount of a leaf peel to show stomata. (Unit-II)
- Experimentally show that carbon dioxide is given out during respiration. (Unit-II)
- Study of the following properties of acetic acid (ethanoic acid): (Unit-I)
- a) Odour
- b) Solubility in water
- c) Effect on litmus
- d) Reaction with Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate
- Study of the comparative cleaning capacity of a sample of soap in soft and hard water. (Unit-I)
- Determination of the focal length of: (Unit-III)
- a) Concave mirror
- b) Convex lens by obtaining the image of a distant object.
- Tracing the path of a ray of light passing through a rectangular glass slab for different angles of incidence. Measure the angle of incidence, angle of refraction, angle of emergence, and interpret the result. (Unit-III)
- Studying (a) binary fission in Amoeba, and (b) budding in yeast and Hydra with the help of prepared slides. (Unit-II)
- Tracing the path of the rays of light through a glass prism. (Unit-III)
- Identification of the different parts of an embryo of a dicot seed (pea, gram, or red kidney bean). (Unit-II)
Prescribed Books
- Science – Textbook for Class IX – NCERT Publication
- Science – Textbook for Class X – NCERT Publication
- Assessment of Practical Skills in Science – Class IX – CBSE Publication
- Assessment of Practical Skills in Science – Class X – CBSE Publication
- Laboratory Manual – Science – Class IX, NCERT Publication
- Laboratory Manual – Science – Class X, NCERT Publication
- Exemplar Problems Class IX – NCERT Publication
- Exemplar Problems Class X – NCERT Publication
- Reading Material – Science – Class IX – CBSE
Question Paper Design (Theory) – Class X (2025-26)
Science (086) Theory (80 marks)
| Competencies | Total |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding | 50% |
| Application of Knowledge/Concepts | 30% |
| Formulate, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create | 20% |
Note:
- Typology of Questions: VSA including objective type questions, Assertion-Reasoning type questions; SA; LA; Source-based/Case-based/Passage-based/Integrated assessment questions.
- An internal choice of approximately 33% would be provided.
Internal Assessment (20 Marks)
- Periodic Assessment – 05 marks + 05 marks
- Subject Enrichment (Practical Work) – 05 marks
- Portfolio – 05 marks
Suggestive Verbs for Various Competencies
- Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding: State, name, list, identify, define, suggest, describe, outline, summarize, etc.
- Application of Knowledge/Concepts: Calculate, illustrate, show, adapt, explain, distinguish, etc.
- Formulate, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create: Interpret, analyze, compare, contrast, examine, evaluate, discuss, construct, etc.