To learn an extensive list of chemical compounds.

THE CONTEST

1. Teams will assemble around a small table. The ONLY AID allowed will be a simple PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS containing only element symbols. No PENCILS, PENS or PAPER may be used by the teams at this ARRAY TABLE! The Contest Array may be used at this table only.

2. Directly across from each team, some distance away, will be an ENTRY TABLE. Only ONE team member at a time may go to this table. That student may write ONLY ONE formula and name, located in the array by his team on the foolscap paper provided.This entry will be covered by the school file folder and may not be changed or even looked at after the entry has been completed. In tag team fashion, other members of the team will run to the ENTRY TABLE, write a formula and name, and return. The entire team need not participate in the entry of substances.

3. No communication other than encouragement is allowed between the team at the ARRAY TABLE and the student at the ENTRY TABLE.

4. At the end of the contest, any student at the ENTRY TABLE, in the process of writing a substance, may complete that entry.

5. The final winner will be determined by an elimination process, involving several contests.

A Sample Array

Allowed Elements.

While any element is in principle allowable, most of the ARRAY will consist of the following elements:

Oxidation States.

The only allowable OXIDATION STATES are those published in the Sargent-Welch Scientific Company Periodic Table of the Elements (Catalogue Number S-18806).
Note that the oxidation state of -1 is permitted for hydrogen in the formation of "hydrides".

Compounds.

You may form compounds from elements that are either touching or adjacent to each other in the correct sequence, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Formula and Name

3. Your entry must include the formula of a compound found in the array with correct subscripts, brackets (where appropriate) and a correct I.U.P.A.C. name. The suffixes "ic" and "ous" are not allowed except in giving common names of acids. In forming covalent compounds (non-metals bonded with non-metals) prefixes must be used.

Repeats

4. Do NOT repeat the same symbol sequence with only a change in subscripts as a new entry. It will be penalised as a repeat.

if PbI2 then NOT PbI4

if K2SO4 then NOT K2SO3 or K2SO5 or K2S2O3 etc.

5. You may NOT form any compound by combination of a positive oxidation state of a non-metallic element with ANY polyatomic negative ions such as chlorate ClO3^(-1) or sulfate SO4 ^ (-2) etc.

Non-metallic elements are: ANY element that exhibits a negative oxidation state.

SCl4 but NOT S(ClO3)4
Br2O but NOT Br3PO4

SCORING

- One point will be AWARDED for each combination of correct formula and name entered.

- One point will be DEDUCTED for any error in EITHER the formula or name entered.

- One point will be DEDUCTED for any REPEATED formula and name combination in the teams entry. This includes the type of repeat identified in rule 4 above.

- Should the above rules result in any controversy, the decision of the Judges will be final.

POLYATOMIC IONS

The following list is provided of the ONLY POLYATOMIC IONS that will be accepted during the event. If we have missed a favourite of yours, please submit the ion, its formula and proper name in writing and we will keep it in mind for next year! Please notice that while persulfate, sulphate, sulfite and hyposulfite are very interesting, they repeat the same "SO" sequence and according to the rules there is no advantage in using "derivative" ions over the basic sulphate ion in forming compounds during the contest.