Austrian Chemistry Olympiad
The Austrian Chemistry Olympiad (ÖChO) is an annual competition between middle school students interested in chemistry . To prepare for the competition, schools run the non-binding exercise "Chemistry Olympiad".
Preparatory courses
In the non-binding exercise “Chemistry Olympiad” (one hour per week), the students are prepared for the competition through training and learning the necessary basics. It is held in schools - assuming an adequate number of participants - from the ninth to the twelfth grade. The basics of all parts of general chemistry and practical analysis are learned.
Competitions
Each federal state organizes a state competition for the Chemistry Olympiad, in which the best of the respective schools take part. The best placed qualify for the national competition. The winners of this Chemistry Olympiad have the opportunity to take part in the International Chemistry Olympiad .
Course competition
Every Chemistry Olympiad group in a school organizes an internal competition in April every year, if necessary. Theoretical and practical tasks have to be solved within three hours. In the practical part, inorganic and / or organic substances often have to be analyzed or titrations for quantitative determination carried out. The three best of each course are allowed to take part in the state competition of their respective federal state .
State competition
The state competition usually lasts three days and takes place at the same time in all federal states. The first day is intended as the arrival day in all federal states except Vienna. The actual competition takes place on the second day. In the morning, the theoretical examples, some of which are already at university level, are solved and in the afternoon practice is part of the program, in which, as in the course competition, mostly ion detections and titrations are carried out. On the third day there will be an excursion in the morning and the results will be announced in the afternoon. The best take part in the national competition; the number of these depends on the number of participating groups.
Federal competition
The best Olympians from all over Austria and South Tyrol are gathered at the national competition. It begins with a two-week preparation period, during which there are lectures on sub-areas of chemistry in the mornings. In the afternoons, practical work is carried out, including more demanding tasks such as organic syntheses . During the preparation time, which always takes place at the school where the competition takes place, there are also excursions. Shortly before the competition, there is a revision course to consolidate the newly acquired knowledge. Then the theoretical competition takes place, two days later the practical one follows. An excursion is usually scheduled on the rest day. On the last day, the results will be announced, the four participants for the International Chemistry Olympiad will be determined and the coveted medals will be awarded. However, medals are not awarded according to rank, but according to points.