Up-to-date analytical methods introduced to school children in 47th International Chemistry Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan

From 20^th to 29^th of July 47^th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan. All together 290 form 75 countries solved 3 practical and 8 theoretical tasks. This Olympiad was definitely one of the hardest in IChO history, most probably being hard to solve for a masters student not only for high school students.

The tasks given to students were very versatile introducing students both to history of Azerbaijan chemistry industry but also to up-to-date methods. One of the practical tasks given to student’s concerned estimating drug content in medicine based on initial rates. The drug Diclofenac was oxidized with KMnO₄ and the spectral change was followed at 525 nm (Figure below) in the thermostated conditions. 

The content was calculated based on a four point calibration graph (initial rate vs concentration). For solving this task students were given (see a photo below) miniaturized photometer, thermostat, cuvette and a magnetic stirrer. The photometer and thermostat were directly controllable with a laptop. Student carried out data treatment in Excel.

I find this problem being a true success as this really introduces young students with interest in chemistry to the analytical methods used today in labs.

For more tasks see http://icho2015.msu.az/