Surface Chemistry JEE Main PYQs PDF, 2020–2023

This chapter was removed from the JEE Main syllabus in 2024. These are older PYQs. See what changed →

Surface Chemistry has 82 questions in JEE Main papers from 2020 to 2023, about 21 per year across all shifts. All 82 are in the free PDF, with an answer key. The most asked topic is Colloids (32 questions), followed by Adsorption (16) and Adsorption Isotherms (13).

Asked in JEE Main: 822020–2023, all shifts
In this free PDF: 82all of them, with answers
Asked in 2023: 23Latest paper: 2023 Apr S1
Most asked topic: Colloids32 Qs · 39% of the chapter
Difficulty mix: 68% easy · 31% medium · 1% hardof the questions in the PDF

Answer key includedNo loginPractise online

Source: official NTA JEE Main papers · Updated 17 Oct 2026

Practise these 82 questions free, no login Download PDF (0.5 MB)

2 of this chapter's questions came back in a later paper (2021–2026). See the most repeated.

How often it's asked in JEE Main

Surface Chemistry was removed from the JEE Main syllabus in 2024. It had about 0.9 questions per shift in 2020–22 and none since.

It did not come up in the 2024–26 shifts in our bank. Question types in 2020–2026: about 63 MCQs and about 19 numerical.

How many questions from Surface Chemistry in JEE Main, year by year

Year	Questions	Per shift	MCQ	Numerical
2026	0	0	0	0
2025	0	0	0	0
2024	0	0	0	0
2023	23	1.0	14	9
2022	20	0.9	16	4
2021	24	0.9	21	3
2020	15	0.9	12	3
2020–2026	82	0.6	63	19

Most asked Surface Chemistry topics, 2020–2026

Topic	Questions
Colloids	32
Adsorption	16
Adsorption Isotherms	13
Coagulation	10
Catalysis	7

Every topic, year by year, is in the topic-wise table further down.

Counted from PrepWiser's question bank of JEE Main papers, 2020–2026. Per shift = questions that year ÷ shifts in our bank. Updated 17 Oct 2026.

Download these numbers (CSV)

See what was removed in 2024 →

Surface Chemistry questions per year

Year	Asked	In PDF
2023	23	23
2022	20	20
2021	24	24
2020	15	15

Topic-wise weightage by year

How many Surface Chemistry questions each topic had in every JEE Main year (all shifts), counting every question asked, including ones not in the PDF. Darker cells mean more questions.

Topic	Asked	Share	2023	2022	2021	2020
Colloids	32	39%	5	9	11	7
Adsorption	16	19%	9	3	2	2
Adsorption Isotherms	13	16%	3	2	5	3
Coagulation	10	12%	4	1	3	2
Catalysis	7	9%	1	3	2	1
Colloids and Emulsions	3	4%	1	1	1	·
Emulsions and Gels	1	1%	·	1	·	·
All topics	82	100%	23	20	24	15

Swipe the table sideways for older years.

Newest questions (2023)

The 12 newest of the 23 JEE Main 2023 Surface Chemistry questions in the free PDF, latest shift first.

JEE Main 2023 · 15 Apr · Shift 1 · Coagulation

$20 \mathrm{~mL}$ of $0.5 \mathrm{M} ~\mathrm{NaCl}$ is required to coagulate $200 \mathrm{~mL}$ of $\mathrm{As}_{2} \mathrm{S}_{3}$ solution in 2 hours. The coagulating value of $\mathrm{NaCl}$ is ____________ .
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 13 Apr · Shift 1 · Colloids

What happens when a lyophilic sol is added to a lyophobic sol?
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 13 Apr · Shift 2 · Colloids

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.

Assertion A : The diameter of colloidal particles in solution should not be much smaller than wavelength of light to show Tyndall effect.

Reason R : The light scatters in all directions when the size of particles is large enough.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 12 Apr · Shift 1 · Adsorption

Four gases A, B, C and D have critical temperatures $5.3,33.2,126.0$ and $154.3 \mathrm{~K}$ respectively. For their adsorption on a fixed amount of charcoal, the correct order is:
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 11 Apr · Shift 2 · Catalysis

The number of correct statements about modern adsorption theory of heterogeneous catalysis from the following is __________

A. The catalyst is diffused over the surface of reactants.

B. Reactants are adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst.

C. Occurrence of chemical reaction on the catalyst's surface through formation of an intermediate.

D. It is a combination of intermediate compound formation theory and the old adsorption theory.

E. It explains the action of the catalyst as well as those of catalytic promoters and poisons.
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 10 Apr · Shift 2 · Coagulation

Ferric chloride is applied to stop bleeding because -
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 10 Apr · Shift 1 · Adsorption

The enthalpy change for the adsorption process and micelle formation respectively are
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 8 Apr · Shift 2 · Coagulation

Coagulating value of the electrolytes $\mathrm{AlCl}_{3}$ and $\mathrm{NaCl}$ for $\mathrm{As}_{2} \mathrm{S}_{3}$ are 0.09 and 50.04 respectively. The coagulating power of $\mathrm{AlCl}_{3}$ is $x$ times the coagulating power of $\mathrm{NaCl}$ . The value of $\underline{x}$ is ___________.
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 8 Apr · Shift 1 · Adsorption Isotherms

Which of the following represent the Freundlich adsorption isotherms?

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 6 Apr · Shift 1 · Adsorption

For the adsorption of hydrogen on platinum, the activation energy is $30 ~\mathrm{k} ~\mathrm{J} \mathrm{mol}^{-1}$ and for the adsorption of hydrogen on nickel, the activation energy is $41.4 ~\mathrm{k} ~\mathrm{J} \mathrm{mol}^{-1}$ . The logarithm of the ratio of the rates of chemisorption on equal areas of the metals at $300 \mathrm{~K}$ is __________ (Nearest integer)

Given: $\ln 10=2.3$

$\mathrm{R}=8.3 \mathrm{~J} \mathrm{~K}^{-1} \mathrm{~mol}^{-1}$
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 6 Apr · Shift 2 · Colloids

The number of colloidal systems from the following, which will have 'liquid' as the dispersion medium, is ___________.

Gem stones, paints, smoke, cheese, milk, hair cream, insecticide sprays, froth, soap lather
Solve it online →
JEE Main 2023 · 1 Feb · Shift 2 · Adsorption Isotherms

In figure, a straight line is given for Freundrich Adsorption ( $y=3x+2.505$ ). The value of $\frac{1}{n}$ and $\log \mathrm{K}$ are respectively.

Solve it online →

Practise the 2023 Surface Chemistry questions online

Sample questions from recent papers

JEE Main 2023 · 31 Jan · Shift 1 · Colloids and Emulsions

Adding surfactants in non polar solvent, the micelles structure will look like

JEE Main PYQ figure

(A)d
(B)a
(C)c
(D)b

Show answer

Answer: (B)

Solve online

JEE Main 2023 · 30 Jan · Shift 2 · Adsorption Isotherms

The graph of

\log \frac{x}{m}

\log \mathrm{p}

for an adsorption process is a straight line inclined at an angle of

45^{\circ}

with intercept equal to

0.6020

. The mass of gas adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent at the pressure of

0.4 \mathrm{~atm}

is _________

\times 10^{-1}

(Nearest integer).

Given:

\log 2=0.3010

Show answer

Answer: 16

Solve online

JEE Main 2022 · 28 Jul · Shift 1 · Catalysis

Match List - I with List - II.

	List - I Reaction		List - II Catalyst
(A)	$4N{H_3}(g) + 5{O_2}(g) \to 4NO(g) + 6{H_2}O(g)$	(I)	$NO(g)$
(B)	${N_2}(g) + 3{H_2}(g) \to 2N{H_3}(g)$	(II)	${H_2}S{O_4}(l)$
(C)	${C_{12}}{H_{22}}{O_{11}}(aq) + {H_2}O(l) \to \mathop {{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}}\limits_{Glu\cos e} + \mathop {{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}}\limits_{Fructose}$	(III)	$Pt(s)$
(D)	$2S{O_2}(g) + {O_2}(g) \to 2S{O_3}(g)$	(IV)	$Fe(s)$

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(A) $(\mathrm{A})-(\mathrm{II}),(\mathrm{B})-(\mathrm{III}),(\mathrm{C})-(\mathrm{I}),(\mathrm{D})-(\mathrm{IV})$
(B) $(\mathrm{A})-(\mathrm{III}),(\mathrm{B})-(\mathrm{II}),(\mathrm{C})-(\mathrm{I}),(\mathrm{D})-(\mathrm{IV})$
(C) $(\mathrm{A})-(\mathrm{III}),(\mathrm{B})-(\mathrm{IV}),(\mathrm{C})-(\mathrm{II}),(\mathrm{D})-(\mathrm{I})$
(D)(A) - (III), (B) - (II), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)

Show answer

Answer: (C)

Solve online

JEE Main 2022 · 24 Jun · Shift 1 · Emulsions and Gels

Given below are two statements :

Statement I : Emulsions of oil in water are unstable and sometimes they separate into two layers on standing.

Statement II : For stabilisation of an emulsion, excess of electrolyte is added.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

(A)Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
(B)Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.
(C)Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
(D)Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.

Show answer

Answer: (C)

Solve online

The free PDF above has all 82 questions grouped by topic, with an answer key.

Practise these online, free, no login

Answer Surface Chemistry PYQs in the browser, get each one checked instantly and open the step-by-step solution where there is one.

Practise Surface Chemistry online

Frequently asked

How many questions come from Surface Chemistry in JEE Main?

82 questions from 2020 to 2023, about 21 per year. In 2023 it had 23.

Which Surface Chemistry topics are most important for JEE Main?

By past papers: Colloids (39%), Adsorption (19%) and Adsorption Isotherms (16%) of all Surface Chemistry questions.

Is the Surface Chemistry PYQ PDF free?

Yes. The PDF and its answer key are free, and you can practise the questions online with no login, with step-by-step solutions where available.

Prefer to solve online? Practise Surface Chemistry online with step-by-step solutions where available, or work through JEE Main papers shift by shift.

More Chemistry chapters

Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers (108 asked · 65 in PDF)
Aldehydes & Ketones (126 asked · 70 in PDF)
Amines & Diazonium Salts (167 asked · 154 in PDF)
Atomic Structure (170 asked · 169 in PDF)
Carbohydrates & Biomolecules (154 asked · 141 in PDF)
Carboxylic Acids & Their Derivatives (32 asked · 21 in PDF)
Chemical Bonding & Molecular Structure (207 asked · 203 in PDF)
Chemical Equilibrium (85 asked · 81 in PDF)
Chemical Kinetics (151 asked · 147 in PDF)
Chemical Thermodynamics (163 asked · 161 in PDF)
Chemistry in Everyday Life (58 asked · 53 in PDF)
Coordination Compounds (248 asked · 244 in PDF)
d & f Block Elements (173 asked · 169 in PDF)
Electrochemistry (167 asked · 165 in PDF)
Environmental Chemistry (82 asked · 16 in PDF)
General Organic Chemistry (GOC) (176 asked · 156 in PDF)
Halogen Derivatives: Haloalkanes & Haloarenes (123 asked · 69 in PDF)
Hydrocarbons: Alkanes (35 asked · 29 in PDF)
Hydrocarbons: Alkenes & Alkynes (89 asked · 45 in PDF)
Hydrocarbons: Aromatic (Arenes) (81 asked · 51 in PDF)
Hydrogen & s-Block Elements (134 asked · all in PDF)
Ionic Equilibrium (99 asked · 96 in PDF)
Metallurgy (84 asked · all in PDF)
Mole Concept & Stoichiometry (206 asked · 201 in PDF)
Nuclear & Radiochemistry (10 asked · all in PDF)
p-Block Elements: Part I (Group 13 & 14) (57 asked · all in PDF)
p-Block Elements: Part II (Group 15-18) (105 asked · 103 in PDF)
Periodic Table & Periodicity (124 asked · 122 in PDF)
Polymers (52 asked · 46 in PDF)
Practical Organic Chemistry (37 asked · 35 in PDF)
Purification & Characterisation of Organic Compounds (128 asked · 123 in PDF)
Qualitative Analysis: Salt Analysis (78 asked · 77 in PDF)
Redox Reactions (87 asked · 86 in PDF)
Solid State (44 asked · all in PDF)
Solutions & Colligative Properties (153 asked · 150 in PDF)

JEE Main PYQs by year: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020

Practise these 82 questions free, no login

Answers follow NTA's final answer keys. Typing errors are possible, so check doubtful answers against the official key. Spotted a mistake? prepwiser.in/feedback · Terms: prepwiser.in/terms

Surface Chemistry JEE Main PYQs PDF, 2020–2023

How often it's asked in JEE Main

How many questions from Surface Chemistry in JEE Main, year by year

Most asked Surface Chemistry topics, 2020–2026

Send this chapter to your study group

Surface Chemistry questions per year

Topic-wise weightage by year

Newest questions (2023)

Sample questions from recent papers

Practise these online, free, no login

Frequently asked

How many questions come from Surface Chemistry in JEE Main?

Which Surface Chemistry topics are most important for JEE Main?

Is the Surface Chemistry PYQ PDF free?

More Chemistry chapters