JEE Main · Chemistry · The p-Block Elements
Group 17 & 18: JEE Main previous year questions
25 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 7 of 8 years. Pattern: Asked most years. 6 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.
- Questions
- 25
- in 23 of 108 shifts
- Years asked
- 7/8
- last asked 2026
- Weighted estimate
- 0.2
- model; history: 0.3 a shift on average, typically 0.1–0.3
Key findings
- 01
Asked in 7 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 23 of 108 shifts: 25 questions, #125 of 196 topics. The years that asked it were 1.5 apart on average.
- 02
71% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 3 repeated an idea from the year before.
- 03
The most repeated idea is Halogen Reactivity Trends, asked 3 times in 3 shifts (2021, 2026), most often as “statement i/ii on halogen oxidising power and layer test”.
- 04
JEE Main has asked 17 of the 45 ideas in this topic; 25 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
- 05
Mostly asked as single correct (48%); 36% need a numerical answer, 36% are easy and 4% hard. It went down from 0.3 to 0.1 questions a shift since 2024.
- 06
The skill tested most is conceptual (28%), then application (28%).
Questions a shift, year by year
Out of the 25 Chemistry questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.
Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 1 in 12 shifts · 2021: 6 in 24 shifts · 2022: 6 in 24 shifts · 2023: 5 in 12 shifts · 2024: 4 in 18 shifts · 2025: 0 in 8 shifts · 2026: 2 in 9 shifts.
- Up to 2023
- 0.3
- a shift, of 25
- Since 2024
- 0.1
- -0.2
- Usual gap
- 1.5 yrs
- between years asking it
- Shifts with it
- 23/108
- 21% of analysed shifts
How it is asked
Difficulty, format and skill
Across all 25 questions on Group 17 & 18 since 2017.
Difficulty
QUESTIONS- Easy9 · 36%
- Medium15 · 60%
- Hard1 · 4%
Format
SHARE- Single correct · 12 Q48%
- Numerical value · 9 Q36%
- Two statements · 2 Q8%
- Match the list · 1 Q4%
- Assertion–reason · 1 Q4%
Skill tested
SHARE- Conceptual · 7 Q28%
- Application · 7 Q28%
- Recall · 7 Q28%
- Calculation · 2 Q8%
- Multi-step · 2 Q8%
Repeats
New idea, or one asked before?
Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.
- Idea asked for the first time
- Idea asked in an earlier year
Coverage of the topic
JEE Main has asked 17 of the 45 ideas in this topic. 25 have never been asked yet.
- Asked directly17 · 38%
- Touched inside another question3 · 7%
- Never asked25 · 56%
Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.
Drill down
Chapter, idea, question
Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.
14 ideas inside
Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.
Ideas
Every idea inside this topic
17 different ideas were tested; 6 came more than once.
statement i/ii on halogen oxidising power and layer test
Single correct · 3 shiftscount species with given shape
Numerical value · 3 shifts · 2 numericalbond pairs and lone pairs
Match the list · 2 shifts · 1 numericalidentify element lacking variable oxidation state
Assertion–reason · 2 shiftsoxidation state change on hydrolysis
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 2 numericalionic adduct of xef4 with sbf5
Numerical value · 2 shifts · 1 numericalidentify species undergoing a reaction type
Single correct · 1 shiftstatement i/ii on noble gas properties
Two statements · 1 shiftsalt giving chlorine with mno2 and h2so4
Single correct · 1 shiftoxygen atoms in products of oxide hydrolysis
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalidentify halides oxidised by oxidant
Single correct · 1 shiftclassify product of halogen reaction
Single correct · 1 shiftproducts of reaction with specific reagent
Single correct · 1 shiftlone pairs in xenon compound from hydrolysis
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalcount halogens forming given oxoacid
Numerical value · 1 shift · 1 numericalcount sigma bonds in oxoacids
Single correct · 1 shiftpredict product of reaction
Single correct · 1 shift
| Idea | Years asked | Times | Shifts | Format | Numerical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halogen Reactivity Trendsstatement i/ii on halogen oxidising power and layer test | 3 | 3 | Single correctConceptual | – | |
| Interhalogen Compoundscount species with given shape | 3 | 3 | Numerical valueRecall | 2 | |
| Xenon Oxides/Oxyfluoridesbond pairs and lone pairs | 2 | 2 | Match the listApplication | 1 | |
| Anomalous Properties of Fluorineidentify element lacking variable oxidation state | 2 | 2 | Assertion–reasonConceptual | – | |
| Xenon Fluoridesoxidation state change on hydrolysis | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueApplication | 2 | |
| Xenon Fluorides as Fluoride Donorsionic adduct of xef4 with sbf5 | 2 | 2 | Numerical valueCalculation | 1 | |
| Chlorine Reactions with Alkaliesidentify species undergoing a reaction type | 1 | 1 | Single correctConceptual | – | |
| Noble Gas Propertiesstatement i/ii on noble gas properties | 1 | 1 | Two statementsConceptual | – | |
| Preparation of Chlorine Gassalt giving chlorine with mno2 and h2so4 | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Halogen Oxoacidsoxygen atoms in products of oxide hydrolysis | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueApplication | 1 | |
| Reducing Character of Hydrogen Halidesidentify halides oxidised by oxidant | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Controlled Preparation of Interhalogensclassify product of halogen reaction | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Oxidation of Iodine by Nitric Acidproducts of reaction with specific reagent | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – | |
| Hydrolysis Reactions of Xenon Fluorideslone pairs in xenon compound from hydrolysis | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueMulti-step | 1 | |
| Nomenclature of Halogen Oxoacidscount halogens forming given oxoacid | 1 | 1 | Numerical valueRecall | 1 | |
| Structures of Halogen Oxoacidscount sigma bonds in oxoacids | 1 | 1 | Single correctApplication | – | |
| Chlorine Disproportionation with Alkalispredict product of reaction | 1 | 1 | Single correctRecall | – |
Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas
Every question
Group 17 & 18 questions, year by year
The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.
JEE Main 20262 questions in 2 shifts
- 2 Apr, Shift 1Q60Given below are two statements : Statement (I) : Oxidising power of halogens decreases in the order , which is…
Idea: Halogen Reactivity Trends
MediumTwo statements - 4 Apr, Shift 1Q71According to Lewis theory, the total number of bond-pairs and lone pair of electrons around the central atom of…
Idea: Xenon Oxides/Oxyfluorides
MediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20244 questions in 4 shifts
- 4 Apr, Shift 2Q72When and is added to a salt (A), the greenish yellow gas liberated as salt (A) is :
Idea: Preparation of Chlorine Gas
New ideaEasySingle correct - 8 Apr, Shift 1Q65Among the following halogens , , and Which can undergo disproportionation…
Idea: Chlorine Reactions with Alkalies
New ideaEasySingle correct - 27 Jan, Shift 1Q65Element not showing variable oxidation state is :
Idea: Anomalous Properties of Fluorine
EasySingle correct - 31 Jan, Shift 1Q73Give below are two statements: Statement - I: Noble gases have very high boiling points. Statement - II: Noble gases are monoatomic gases.…
Idea: Noble Gas Properties
New ideaEasyTwo statements
JEE Main 20235 questions in 5 shifts
- 8 Apr, Shift 1Q88reacts with to form . = ________
Idea: Xenon Fluorides as Fluoride Donors
MediumNumerical value - 10 Apr, Shift 1Q88In the following reactions, the total number of oxygen atoms in X and Y is ____________ …
Idea: Halogen Oxoacids
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 10 Apr, Shift 2Q88The difference in the oxidation state of Xe between the oxidised product of Xe formed on complete hydrolysis of and…
Idea: Xenon Fluorides
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 13 Apr, Shift 1Q68at room temperature is a:
Idea: Interhalogen Compounds
Asked the year beforeMediumSingle correct - 13 Apr, Shift 2Q69The correct group of halide ions which can be oxidised by oxygen in acidic medium is
Idea: Reducing Character of Hydrogen Halides
New ideaMediumSingle correct
JEE Main 20226 questions in 5 shifts
- 25 Jul, Shift 1Q71The interhalogen compound formed from the reaction of bromine with excess of fluorine is a :
Idea: Controlled Preparation of Interhalogens
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 25 Jul, Shift 2Q61Match List I with List II : List I (molecule) | List II (hybridization ; shape) A. | I. ; linear B.…
Idea: Xenon Oxides/Oxyfluorides
New ideaMediumMatch the list - 25 Jul, Shift 2Q86The sum of number of lone pairs of electrons present on the central atoms of , and , is…
Idea: Xenon Fluorides
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 28 Jul, Shift 1Q87The number of interhalogens from the following having square pyramidal structure is :…
Idea: Interhalogen Compounds
Asked the year beforeMediumNumerical value - 28 Jul, Shift 2Q37Concentrated reacts with Iodine to give
Idea: Oxidation of Iodine by Nitric Acid
New ideaEasySingle correct - 27 Jun, Shift 2Q67Given below are two statements: one is labelled as **Assertion A** and the other is labelled as **Reason R**. **Assertion A:** Flourine…
Idea: Anomalous Properties of Fluorine
New ideaEasyAssertion–reason
JEE Main 20216 questions in 5 shifts
- 4 Aug, Shift 2Q36The number of (sigma) bond present in chloric acid, chlorous acid and perchloric acid are, respectively,
Idea: Structures of Halogen Oxoacids
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 26 Aug, Shift 1Q38The incorrect statement is :
Idea: Halogen Reactivity Trends
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 26 Aug, Shift 1Q52is an interhalogen T-shaped molecule. The number of lone pairs of electrons on A is ___________. (Integer answer)
Idea: Interhalogen Compounds
New ideaEasyNumerical value - 31 Aug, Shift 1Q57The number of halogen/(s) forming halic (V) acid is __________.
Idea: Nomenclature of Halogen Oxoacids
New ideaMediumNumerical value - 25 Feb, Shift 2Q34The correct order of bond dissociation enthalpy of halogens is :
Idea: Halogen Reactivity Trends
New ideaMediumSingle correct - 18 Mar, Shift 2Q58A xenon compound ‘A’ upon partial hydrolysis gives . The number of lone pair of electrons present in compound A is…
Idea: Hydrolysis Reactions of Xenon Fluorides
New ideaMediumNumerical value
JEE Main 20201 question in 1 shift
- 4 Sep, Shift 2Q34The reaction in which the hybridisation of the underlined atom is affected is :
Idea: Xenon Fluorides as Fluoride Donors
New ideaHardSingle correct
JEE Main 20171 question in 1 shift
- 2 Apr (offline)Q46The products obtained when chlorine gas reacts with cold and dilute aqueous NaOH are :
Idea: Chlorine Disproportionation with Alkalis
EasySingle correct
Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.