Environmental Chem

[honey7]

yeah its the same but u might want to learn all about the nutrients needed for lettuce, corn, and tomatoes... they were all on the sample tests

[dickyjones]

Yeah, this has quickly become my absolute least favorite event.

I can do all the sample problems from the rules, measure NPK and pH in soil samples and decide what changes to make to the soil for different plants, and know some basic stuff on chemistry of soil and physical properties. But learning all of that took like one week, and I really have no idea of what other sort tasks or concepts they will ask. I have glanced at a couple soil chem books that have easier been at a RIDICULOUSLY easy level and college texts that were at a ridiculously high level that events sups would be crazy to make questions of at competitions.

So does anyone have any links or references for more labs that I could perform (especially for contaminants) with either chemicals I could make myself in the chem lab or could buy cheap? And maybe a soil chemistry book or website with info that's at a second or first year college chem level?

Also in this event (or in food science, I guess), are the lab procedures generally given to you for the more obscure labs? If so, am I getting this wrong and this is more of a go in and BS event than a study/practice event?

[ScienceIsMyLife]

my advice: dont focus all of your attention on the "chem" part of it and remember the "environmental" part too. last year they asked us a bunch of short response questions that covered everything from ddt to red tides to the role of phosphates in an aquatic ecosystem. plus, last year they asked us identification questions for certain chemicals, so make sure you can do that, too.

[honey7]

I totally agree w/ScienceIsMyLife and would like to add that they also might cover stuff like what color chemicals will change when put into different solutions. (idk they had it on a practice test)

[iYOA]

i wouldnt worry too much about it for regionals because you should probably do ok at it
you should use the test at regionals as an example for what states will be like and maybe nats.

[oh joy]

Is there knowledge of chemistry needed for this event??? i mean...what am i asking? its in the title...
I mean like, REAL chemistry with the chemical compounds and how to...
Let me start again:
Chemistry you learn in HS with not just the lab part but the table of element stuff and all that stuff...
I mean...
Does anyone comprehend?????
Sorry.

[dudeincolorado]

think what you mean is do you need crimebusters chemistry or chem lab chemistry right? like i know in crimbusters i learned chemisity yes but not much more then what i already knew but like chem lab is like CHEMISTRY!!!! right?

[oh joy]

YES! u understand oh joy language!

[dudeincolorado]

YAY! glad to help but sorry im not doing this event

[LolBubbles]

DOES ANYBODY KNO THE CHEMICALS WE GET AT THE ACTUAL COMPETITION?