nit
Member
Olympiad-style chemistry basically consists of all the chemistry done in the 1st year of a science degree along with some 2nd year stuff. In some areas of chem - eg organic and analytical chemistry, the requisite knowledge goes further than even 2nd year stuff. Just as much as the theory, the practical component of the Olympiads is vital - there are heaps of funky organic syntheses/co-ordinate complex syntheses and elemental analysis pracs in olympiad chem - eg at the summer school at ANU there are about 12 pracs or so crammed into 16 days, each for 4-5 hrs' duration, while the international exam consists of a 5hr theory paper and a 5hr practical component in addition, which generally consists of a number of titrations (maybe 5) along with an organic synthesis and a complex synthesis including a determination of chemical formulae.