Environmental Chemistry

Participants: 2

Materials:

• Binder of any size (include printed versions of all regulation texts)

• Non-graphing calculator (make sure it has logs)

• Things to write with

• Lab supplies

• GOGGLES and long sleeve clothes/apron

There might not be a lab, you might rotate through stations, or you might be able to take the lab whenever you want. Some competitions might be 200 small calculations while others are 6-7 longer problems.

The best way to learn things for this event is to use a study guide and add information to it through google searches and practice tests. Also make sure to have at least skimmed all the regulation texts and practice finding things in them by taking tests. You're not going to be able to memorize them but you should have a good idea where things are. Use a table of contents to find things quickly (I made one, see the study guide below).

21-22

To get more information, scour the web (especially wikipedia) and take practice tests. There are college courses that align with this test so you could use lecture notes from those.

Luckily you don't have to memorize much about environmental chemistry. However, knowing chemistry itself is necessary, especially for labs. If you've taken AP chem you're probably okay (although you might want to review stuff) however, some of the content that's of interest is often covered after scioly's season ends so you might need to look ahead if you are currently taking the class. Here are some topics to learn:

• Stoichiometry

  • MV=MV

• Equilibrium reactions

• Strong and weak acids and bases (Ka,Kb), calculating pH

Some resources to learn things

• Here's a textbook that is helpful for this event in particular, especially for people having taken Honors Chem (chapters 1, 2,3)

• Khan academy

• Tuori's website

Split up the test since timing can often be a problem. If you can, start the lab as soon as possible and have one person focus on that while the other person works on the test. Ask each other for help as necessary. The lab is very very important so prioritize that over everything else.

It might be good to have one person focus on the regulation books since you're only allowed one binder and you can't take things out of it so having 2 people work on that at once might be difficult.