On April 19, the laboratory round of the 60th anniversary International Mendeleev Olympiad of Schoolchildren in Chemistry was held at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University. The experimental round of the Olympiad lasts 5 hours and requires students to have the skills to work in a chemical laboratory: the ability to perform chemical analysis of substances and carry out synthesis according to the proposed methodology. 200 best chemistry students from 37 countries are taking part in the 60th Mendeleev Olympiad. The world's oldest and one of the largest competitions of young chemists this year is taking place from April 15 to 23 in Moscow. The event occupies a special place within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of the Science to Win initiative.
Chairman of the international jury of MIO-60 Alexander Gladilin: "The tasks of this tour include four tasks. It so happened that they are a continuation of the opening ceremony, where the official start of the Olympics was given by a reaction with a blue glow — the image of the Olympic flame. This year, the tasks of the practical tour are devoted to fluorescence in its various manifestations. The guys synthesize a fluorescent dye, then analyze two different versions of mixtures citrometrically using different techniques. After that, a qualitative semi-quantitative analysis is carried out, the guys use thin-layer chromatography."
David Lisboa (Brazil): "The practical task was to conduct experiments that turned out to be easier than I thought. The synthesis was quite interesting. The neutralization and symmetrical titration of iron and aluminum was also fascinating. It seemed to me that the tasks were easier than in previous years, but I do not know if I got a good result."
Mu Keqi (China): "As for the practical part, it is completely different from last year's and the one that was two years ago. A lot has changed, but I think I can handle it because we've practiced similar tasks before, so it was already familiar to me."
Arseniy Sysoev (Russia): "The workshop was very interesting. I liked the idea of linking all the tasks to the topic of fluorescence."
Saleh Alharbi (Saudi Arabia): "I enjoyed the hands-on tour. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't difficult either. I think MMO-60 is going great this year."
Daniel Hristov (North Macedonia): "The practice tour was excellent. The experiments were very interesting and varied. I had fun solving the problems. I am glad that such an important stage of the Olympiad has been completed. I hope that it has been completed successfully."
Tamara Garrote (Costa Rica): "I enjoyed working with interesting equipment and reagents. I love titration, so I really enjoyed it. It's nice to be among so many talented people who are just as passionate about their business. Of course, it's exciting to represent your country, so you try to do everything perfectly."
Chairman of the international jury of MIO-60 Alexander Gladilin: "The tasks of this tour include four tasks. It so happened that they are a continuation of the opening ceremony, where the official start of the Olympics was given by a reaction with a blue glow — the image of the Olympic flame. This year, the tasks of the practical tour are devoted to fluorescence in its various manifestations. The guys synthesize a fluorescent dye, then analyze two different versions of mixtures citrometrically using different techniques. After that, a qualitative semi-quantitative analysis is carried out, the guys use thin-layer chromatography."
David Lisboa (Brazil): "The practical task was to conduct experiments that turned out to be easier than I thought. The synthesis was quite interesting. The neutralization and symmetrical titration of iron and aluminum was also fascinating. It seemed to me that the tasks were easier than in previous years, but I do not know if I got a good result."
Mu Keqi (China): "As for the practical part, it is completely different from last year's and the one that was two years ago. A lot has changed, but I think I can handle it because we've practiced similar tasks before, so it was already familiar to me."
Arseniy Sysoev (Russia): "The workshop was very interesting. I liked the idea of linking all the tasks to the topic of fluorescence."
Saleh Alharbi (Saudi Arabia): "I enjoyed the hands-on tour. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't difficult either. I think MMO-60 is going great this year."
Daniel Hristov (North Macedonia): "The practice tour was excellent. The experiments were very interesting and varied. I had fun solving the problems. I am glad that such an important stage of the Olympiad has been completed. I hope that it has been completed successfully."
Tamara Garrote (Costa Rica): "I enjoyed working with interesting equipment and reagents. I love titration, so I really enjoyed it. It's nice to be among so many talented people who are just as passionate about their business. Of course, it's exciting to represent your country, so you try to do everything perfectly."