Pupils gathered in the spring sunshine to receive their certificates and celebrate their success in Chemistry.
Designed to challenge and inspire, the UK Chemistry Olympiad (UKChO) is a unique opportunity for pupils to push themselves further and excel in the chemistry field. Through this challenge budding chemists develop critical problem-solving skills, learn to think more creatively and get a chance to test their knowledge in new, real-world situations.
The Olympiad challenged the Year 12 pupils on the structure and composition of bronze and silver; unit cells; iodate salts; fuel-producing bacteria; enthalpy; MRI and magnetisation; oxidation states and more.
Tatiana (Year 12) shares her experience:
The 56th annual chemistry Olympiad was the first one I have ever attempted, and it did not disappoint. The Olympiad consisted of a two-hour written paper. Questions ranged from electronic configuration and titrations to fuel-producing bacteria, resonance forms of intermediates and the James Webb Space Telescope. Many of us, as first year A Level Chemists, were completely lost. However, we all soon come to realise that the paper was not a test of knowledge, but a test of problem solving and persistence. Whilst we didn’t necessarily have the knowledge base about gadopinclenol synthesis and MRI machines, we had the tools to work through things when faced with unknown problems. It was a really enjoyable experience as it pushed us all past the A Level syllabus and confronted us with things we had never seen before.
Congratulations to all on their achievement!