International Chemistry Olympiad Selection Test

I have a feeling that academic excellence at STPM level is mediocre when I participated in IChO selection test two days ago.

20 participants (2 of them being participants of the previous IChO) from all states of Malaysia assembled in UM for a 3-hour test, and 3 will be selected for IChO taking place at Budhapest this year.

We were not allowed to use periodic table (Ouch) during the test. The test was rather easy EXCEPT for the first 2 Organic essay question. That is INSANELY hard.

Q1 Part A

(They gave some clues about the intermediate involve in synthesis of luminol)

1 Draw the structure for a) Benzene 1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride b) Luminol

WHAT THE HECK IS LUMINOL???

And surprisingly, according to wikipedia, LUMINOL IS NOT AN ALCOHOL…

Q2 Part A

1 What is the structure of aspirin?

Thanks goodness I happens to read about it, the only clues they gave is—2-acetoxybenzoic acid.

Part B

Show how paracetamol could be prepared from phenol.

Well…this is still ok.

The result of the selection test will be out within two weeks time.

P/s : I was having fun that day, lots of socialization involved after the test. The professor who invigilated us was friendly. But perhaps the biggest surprise was—I found my future coursemate! lol