Chemathon 2012

Labolympics Competition

Division II and Division IV students will compete in the Labolympics during Chemathon 2012.  Each school may field up to 2 teams of 4-5 students.  Each team will compete in the following events, where each event will take place for no more than 15 minutes. The events will not necessarily occur in the order identified below.

Event:  Estimate mass and volume

Scores will be determined based upon accuracy of the approximated amount relative to the requested amount.

Estimate Mass - Teams will be presented with collection of solid objects that they may take all or a portion of and accurately determine the mass of using a laboratory balance. Each team will then be required to set out a mass of the the objects (identified by the proctor) by approximation (no laboratory balance or other measuring tools will be allowed).

Estimate Volume - Each team will be presented with a bottle containing water.  Teams will be required to transfer (by approximation) a volume of the water to a new container.  No laboratory balance or other measuring tools will be allowed.

Event: Volume Delivery

Scores will be determined by accuracy and precision of volume delivered.

Pipette with a volumetric pipette and hand held bulb - Each team will be provided with a volumetric glass pipette (volume may be between 1 and 100 mL) and a hand held rubber bulb (no valve bulbs will be used).  A student will transfer a pipette volume of water to a new container which will be weighed for accuracy.  The task will be completed two more times, each by a different student on the team. 

Deliver volume with a burette - Each team will be provided with a 50 mL glass burette with a Teflon stopcock. A student will be required to accurately deliver a predetermined volume of water from the buret into a separate container with will be weighed for accuracy.  The task will be completed two more times, each by a different student on the team. 

Event:  Prepare a Solution

Scores will be determined by accuracy and time.

Each team will be provided with a pure solid sample and its chemical formula, a spatula, a balance (with mg precision), a beaker, a volumetric flask, parafilm, and a bottle of distilled water.  Each team will be required to prepare a solution (molar concentration) specified by the exam proctor.  The solution preparation will be timed from the point at which teams are released to prepare solutions to the point at which the solution is submitted to the proctor.  Solution concentrations will be examined for accuracy using a Spec 20.

Event: Chemistry Lab Equipment and Glassware Identification

Scores will be determined by the number of pieces correctly identified.

 

Teams will be required to identify a variety of glassware and equipment found commonly and less commonly in a chemistry laboratory.  Equipment and glassware will be laid out for students to examine.  No information regarding what glassware and equipment may or will be displayed will be provided to teams prior to them entering this event.