ChemQuest

University of Waikato, Hamilton

24th Oct 2012 7:00pm

Every year since 1997 the Department of Chemistry has given the opportunity for students studying chemistry at NCEA level 2 to compete for the ChemQuest™ trophy and other prizes. Secondary Schools in the University of Waikato catchment area (Waikato, Bay of Plenty, King Country) are invited to send teams of three to the University for an entertaining evening. This competition requires familiarity with Year 12 Chemistry as well as good general knowledge.

The Competition

Each year the categories vary. There are usually four question rounds, which are broken up by the Teachers’ Turn (questions for teachers) and sometimes spot prize questions.

To add a little chaos into the situation, teams are given a jeopardy card which they may use at the beginning of one round. For that round only the jeopardy card doubles their points.

Photos from the 2011 Competition

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  First Place

  From Te Awamutu College: Hayden Berkers, Liam Macintosh and Matt Harker, pictured with Dr Graham Corban from Hill Laboratories.

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  Second Place

  From St Paul’s Collegiate School: Belinda Pedersen, Jonathan Eyers, and Sam Armstrong, pictured with Dr Graham Corban from Hill Laboratories.

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  Third Place

  From St Paul's Collegiate School: Mitchel Proudfoot, Alex Hargreaves, and Conor Robson pictured with Dr Graham Corban from Hill Laboratories.

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  Fourth Place

  From Mount Maunganui College: Paige Coulter, Tim Neate and Dylan Prole, pictured with Dr Graham Corban from Hill Laboratories.

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  Fifth Place

  From Hillcrest High School: Sam McDowall, Jordin Cronin and Jason Yan, pictured with Dr Graham Corban from Hill Laboratories.

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  Teacher's Turn

  Teachers have the opportunity to impress their students by competing in “Teacher’s Turn” where they can win a box of chocolates and a chemistry textbook for their school.

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  Bang, bang!

  Touch powder (aka nitrogen tri-iodide) is a very shock-sensitive substance when dry.

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  Yellow liquid - Part 1

  Prof Bill Henderson is shown making a yellow precipitate of lead iodide, by mixing two colourless solutions.

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  Yellow liquid - Part 2

  Prof Bill Henderson is shown making a yellow precipitate of lead iodide, by mixing two colourless solutions

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  Bubbling away - Part 1

  The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (with some soap added) produces a large amount of oxygen gas, in the form of lots of foam.

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  Bubbling away - Part 2

  The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (with some soap added) produces a large amount of oxygen gas, in the form of lots of foam.

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  Explosion!

  The large amount of energy produced when a balloon full of hydrogen is burned in air is shown by this demonstration.

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  Explosion 2

  The large amount of energy produced when a balloon full of hydrogen is burned in air is shown by this demonstration.

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  Prof Bill Henderson with the demo gear

  The Chemquest quiz has a variety of questions, including a section of 10 questions based on a variety of chemistry demonstrations.

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  Turning blue

  When a bottle containing a colourless solution of glucose, sodium hydroxide and an indicator is shaken, it magically turns bright blue.

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  Liquid nitrogen experiment - Part 1

  Liquid nitrogen is poured into water. See the next photo for the reaction.

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  Liquid nitrogen experiment - Part 2

  When liquid nitrogen is poured into water it produces a large amount of fog.

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  Liquid nitrogen poured into a glove

  This demonstration shows what happens when liquid nitrogen is allowed to boil inside a rubber glove – the balloon expands and eventually pops.

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  The sniff test

  Students from Waikato Diocesan School try to guess what smells have been trapped inside the vials, as part of the chemistry quiz.

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  Sniff test - Te Kuiti High School

  Students from Te Kuiti High School try to guess what smells have been trapped inside the vials, as part of the chemistry quiz.