Preparatory Problems :44th International Chemistry Olympiad-ICHO 2012

International Chemistry Olympiad. These problems were prepared with reliance on fundamental topics that 

are traditionally covered in high school chemistry courses supplemented with six topics of advanced difficulty for the Theoretical part and one topic of advanced difficulty for the Practical part. These topics are listed under “Topics of Advanced Difficulty”, and their applications are given in the problems. In our experience each of these topics can be introduced in two to three hours. Whenever possible the relevance of the problem in the chemical sciences, and to the complex world in which we live, is given. olutions will be sent to the head mentor of each country by email by February 1st of 2012. We welcome any comments, corrections, or questions about the problems to icho2012@umd.edu. 

We hope that these problems will be useful in your efforts to prepare students for the 44th IChO, and we look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC, and at the University of Maryland.

Content

Theoretical Problems 

Problem 1 Structure of Boron Hydrides and NMR Spectroscopy

Problem 2 Structure of Aluminum Halides

Problem 3 Polyoxoanions of Boron

Problem 4 Boron Nitride and Its Solid State Structure

Problem 5 The Tin Pest: Solid State Structure and Phase Equilibrium 

Problem 6 Silanes: Thermochemistry and Bond Dissociation Enthalpy

Problem 7 Lewis Acid-Base Chemistry

Problem 8 Nitrogen Oxides: Chemistry, Reaction Equilibrium and Thermodynamics

Problem 9 Isomerism of Coordination Compounds of Metals

Problem 10 Absorption Spectroscopy

Problem 11 Solution Equilibria 

Problem 12 First Order Rate Processes and Radioactivity

Problem 13 Kinetics and Mechanisms of Isomerization of an Octahedral  Metal Complex

Problem 14 Metal Phthalocyanines: Mechanism of Reduction

Problem 15 Isotope Effects in Azo Coupling Reactions

Problem 16 Fluorescent Lamps: Heating Inert Gas Atoms by Electrons

Problem 17 Molecular Motors

Problem 18 Particles in a Box Problem and Conjugated Polyenes

Problem 19 Toluene in a Superacid Solution

Problem 20 Mechanism of Catalysis by Lactate Dehydrogenase

Problem 21 Substrate Specificity of Subtilisin

Problem 22 Electro-spray Ionization Mass-spectrometry of Peptides

Problem 23 Persistent Carbenes

Problem 24 The Diels–Alder Reaction

Problem 25 Pericyclic Reactions and the Woodward–Hoffmann Rules

Problem 26 Synthesis of Tetracycline

Problem 27 Synthesis of Antiviral Drugs 

Practical Problems, Safety

Problem 28 Analysis of Sodium Sesquicarbonate (Trona)

Problem 29 Analysis of Copper in a Nickel Coin

Problem 30 Synthesis and Analysis of Iron Oxalate Complex

Problem 31 Synthesis and Reduction of an Imine: Green Synthesis of a New Compound

Problem 32 Kinetics of Ferricyanide Oxidation of Ascorbic Acid

Problem 33 Synthesis of a Mannich Base: a Mannich Mystery