How many mL of water must be added to 15 mL of a 0.25 M solution of H₂SO₄ to obtain a 0.05 M solution?
Pick an answer to see the explanation
Chemistry is the second-largest IMAT section: 15 of the 60 questions, worth 22.5 points, and second in the tie-break order. Questions combine core concepts with short calculations; there is no calculator, so the numbers are always clean.
Organic chemistry, acids and bases, and redox are present every year. Calculations — dilutions, partial pressures, mole counts — are one or two steps at most; recognising the right relation matters more than arithmetic.
Question distribution analysis
IMAT Chemistry Topics: Frequency
Which topics demand your deepest attention? Below is the topic breakdown from our IMAT question data:
| Topic | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Organic Chemistry & Biomolecules | 8 | |
| Acids, Bases & pH | 7 | |
| Redox Reactions | 6 | |
| States of Matter & Gas Laws | 5 | |
| Stoichiometry & Nomenclature | 4 | |
| Atomic Structure & Periodic Table | 4 | |
| Energetics, Kinetics & Equilibrium | 4 | |
| Chemical Bonding | 3 | |
| Solutions & Concentration | 2 | |
| Inorganic Compounds | 2 |
*Question counts per topic in the official IMAT 2024, 2025 and 2026 papers (MUR), Chemistry section (15 questions), tagged by the PrepTest question bank. Topics are grouped by PrepTest; the topic mix changes from year to year, so treat the table as a guide to priorities, not a prediction.
Key Takeaways
- Organic chemistry & biomolecules is the most frequent block (8 questions in 3 years): functional groups, hydrocarbons, isomers.
- Acids, bases & pH appears every year (7): Brønsted–Lowry and Lewis definitions, pH of salts and of weak acids.
- Redox is rising (1 → 2 → 3): oxidation numbers and balancing — including a disproportionation in 2026.
- Gas laws, stoichiometry and solutions carried the 2024 calculations (8 questions) but only 1 in 2026 — still worth practising.
Difficulty analysis
Topic Difficulty & Recommended Study Allocation
Not all topics require the same time investment. Some need extensive problem-solving practice, others rely on precise conceptual recall:
Hard
Stoichiometry & Solutions 1.5–2 weeksHard
Organic Chemistry 1.5–2 weeksMedium
Redox Reactions 1 weekMedium
Acids, Bases & pH 1 weekMedium
Energetics, Kinetics & Equilibrium 1 weekMedium
Bonding & Gas Laws 1 weekEasy
Atomic Structure & Periodic Table 4–5 daysNot Sure Where to Begin Your Preparation?
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Take Diagnostic TestOfficial syllabus breakdown
IMAT Chemistry Topics: How Each Is Tested
A topic-by-topic look at the Chemistry section of the official MUR IMAT syllabus (DM 1005/2026, Allegato A):
01
Matter, Atoms & the Periodic Table Easy
- States of matter; homogeneous and heterogeneous systems; elements and compounds.
- Atomic number, mass number, isotopes; electron configuration.
- Groups, periods and periodic trends: atomic radius, ionisation energy, electron affinity.
How it appears on IMAT: Trend directions (radius grows right-to-left and top-to-bottom) and ion questions such as the valence electrons of Cl⁻ or Mg²⁺.
02
Chemical Bonding & Gas Laws Medium
- Ionic, covalent and metallic bonds; bond polarity and electronegativity.
- Intermolecular forces and boiling points.
- Ideal gas laws and partial pressures.
How it appears on IMAT: ‘What kind of solid is NaCl?’, boiling-point comparisons, and quick gas problems (Dalton's law, isothermal and isochoric changes).
03
Stoichiometry, Solutions & Nomenclature Hard
- Mole concept, Avogadro's number, balancing equations, limiting reagent.
- Solubility and concentration (molarity, dilution).
- Nomenclature of oxides, hydroxides, acids and salts.
How it appears on IMAT: One-step calculations: moles of ions in a solution, water to add for a dilution, mass of product from a limiting reagent.
04
Redox Reactions Medium
- Oxidation numbers.
- Oxidising and reducing agents.
- Balancing simple redox and disproportionation reactions.
How it appears on IMAT: Assigning oxidation numbers (Cl is +3 in HClO₂) and choosing correctly balanced coefficients.
05
Energetics, Kinetics & Equilibrium Medium
- Exothermic and endothermic reactions.
- Rate laws, activation energy and catalysis.
- Equilibria in aqueous solution; Le Chatelier's principle.
How it appears on IMAT: Conceptual items: the activation energy as a barrier, rate laws determined experimentally, shifting an equilibrium with heat or pressure.
06
Acids, Bases & pH Medium
- Arrhenius, Brønsted–Lowry and Lewis definitions.
- pH of strong and weak acids; dilution and pH.
- Hydrolysis of salts and buffer solutions.
How it appears on IMAT: Is a salt solution acidic, neutral or basic (KBr vs sodium acetate)? Quick pH from powers of ten.
07
Organic Chemistry Hard
- Carbon bonding, molecular and structural formulas, isomerism.
- Aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons.
- Functional groups: alcohols, ethers, amines, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides.
How it appears on IMAT: Recognition and classification — no reaction mechanisms. Which molecules share a formula, which contain C=O, how carbons in benzene are hybridised.
Official MUR Syllabus
The official IMAT programme is Allegato A of the Ministry of University and Research decree for the 2026/27 admission test:
MUR — DM n. 1005 of 06-08-2026Solved exam problems
IMAT Chemistry Sample Questions & Elimination Tactics
See how IMAT chemistry questions are built and how disciplined elimination avoids the −0.4 penalty:
A mixture of 0.3 mol of N₂, 0.5 mol of CO₂, and 0.4 mol of O₂ exerts a pressure of 2.4 atm on the walls of the vessel that contains it. What is the pressure exerted by the nitrogen?
Pick an answer to see the explanation
C₃H₆O can be:
Pick an answer to see the explanation
Candidate trap analysis
5 Most Common Mistakes in IMAT Chemistry
Recurring conceptual and tactical errors that cost students crucial points:
01
Final volume vs added volume
Dilution questions often ask how much solvent to add. Subtract the starting volume.
02
Celsius in gas laws
Convert to kelvin before any proportion: heating from −3 °C to 27 °C is 270 K → 300 K, not ×(−9).
03
Ions per formula unit
1 mol of Na₂SO₄ gives 2 mol of Na⁺. Multiply by the subscript before using the molarity.
04
Salt solutions are not always neutral
KBr and NaCl give pH 7; sodium acetate is basic because acetate hydrolyses. Ask which ion comes from a weak acid or base.
05
Oxidation number exceptions
Oxygen is −1 in peroxides and hydrogen is −1 in metal hydrides. An oxidation number is always a whole number on the IMAT.
Study roadmap
10-Week Strategic Study Roadmap
Weeks 1–2
Diagnostic & Foundations
Take a timed diagnostic; rebuild the topics marked ‘Easy’ and note every error type: concept, reading or calculation.
Weeks 3–5
Biology & Chemistry First
38 of the 60 questions are Biology and Chemistry. Work through their ‘Medium’ and ‘Hard’ topics in the order of the frequency tables.
Weeks 6–7
Physics, Maths & Logic
Cover the 13-question Physics & Mathematics block and the 5 logic questions with short mixed sets; aim for about 90 seconds per question.
Weeks 8–9
Full Mocks
One full 60-question, 100-minute IMAT mock per week; review every wrong and every guessed answer.
Week 10
Final Polish
Re-do your error log, revise the traps, and practise the skip-or-answer rule: a wrong answer costs −0.4, a blank costs nothing.