The Science Olympiad programme in India is conducted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, in collaboration with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) and the Indian Association of Chemistry Teachers (IACT). The National Olympiad Programme in chemistry is overseen by a national steering committee constituted by the Department of Atomic Energy.

To participate in the International Chemistry Olympiads (IChO), one has to enrol for the National Standard Examinations (NSE). If your school or college is a registered NSE centre, enrol your name by paying the required fee by the due date. Otherwise, look for a nearby registered NSE centre for enrolment. In case of any problems, you can contact Prof. M.L. Oglapurkar, Co-ordinator (NSEP), IAPT Office, I.I.E. Campus, 128/2, J.P. Naik Marg, Kothrud, Pune 411 038. Tel: (R) 020 25420487 and (O) 020 25420163. Email: iapt@vsnl.net. For details, contact HBCSE (TIFR) at V. N. Purav Marg, Mankhurd Mumbai 400088. You can also log on to www.hbcse.tifr. res.in.

Eligibility

Science students of classes XI and XII are eligible to apply. The regional co-ordinators may admit students from lower classes also.

Entrance exam

The selection of Indian participants for the International Chemistry Olympiad is carried out in the following four stages:

Stage 1: The NSE in chemistry (NSEC), which is held at a large number of centres across the country in November, is the first stage of selection of students in the National Olympiad Programme.

Stage 2: The top students from the NSEC are selected to appear for the Indian National Chemistry Olympiad (INChO). It is held sometime in the last week of January or early February at about 15 centres across the country.

Stage 3: The shortlisted group of about 35 students are invited to the 10-day orientation-cum-selection camp (OCSC) at HBCSE. The best 20 students qualify for merit awards by HBCSE (TIFR), consisting of a merit certificate and a set of complimentary books. The top four students are given Rs 5,000 each in the form of books and cash. There are also special prizes to recognize meritorious performances in theory and experiments. The merit awardees constitute the four-member student team to represent India at the IChO.

Stage 4: The selected team undergoes a two-week training programme at HBCSE.

Stage 5: The four-member student team, two teacher leaders and one scientific observer represent India at the IChO.

Pattern of exam

The INChO is of four hours’ duration. The syllabus is broadly equivalent to IIT JEE (main examination) chemistry, with the further addition of elementary biochemistry.

How to prepare

You can prepare from Principles of Physical Chemistry by Maron & Prutton, Physical Chemistry by P.W. Atkins, Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd, Organic Chemistry by Carey, Organic Chemistry — A Brief Course by Atkins & Carey, Concise Inorganic Chemistry by Lee, Basic Inorganic Chemistry by Cotton, Wilkinson & Gaus, Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry by Skoog & West and Principles of Biochemistry by Lehninger.

sample test paper

• One may apply steady state approximation to CH3 and CH3CO radicals (i.e. the rate of formation and rate of consumption of such intermediate species are equal). Write the steady state equations for CH3 and CH3CO. Obtain, using these steady state concentrations, an expression for the rate of formation of methane. Assuming the energies of activation for steps 1- 4 to be E1, E2, E3 and E4 respectively, what will be the energy of activation for the overall reaction?

• Fluorine can be stored in a metal container, whereas other halogens cannot be stored.
The reason for this is:
(a) very low F – F bond dissociation enthalpy
(b) fluorine does not react with metals
(c) fluorine reacts with a metal to form a non-reactive metal fluoride film
(d) other halogens are more reactive towards metals

• The same quantity of electricity that liberates 2.158 g silver is passed through a
solution of a gold salt, and 1.314 g gold is deposited. The equivalent weight of silver is 107.9. Calculate the equivalent weight of gold. What is the oxidation state of gold in this gold salt?