by Dr. Chen
Mar 1, 2020
Limited by the time, only topics with a certain level of difficulty and high repeatability will be summarized here.
Underlined topics will be discussed at the online prep session first, others will be discussed if there is time left.
Topics marked by asterisks are mainly for USNCO national exam, which will not be discussed at the online session. Please be aware that more national level topics showed up in the recent locals.
More prep materials for USNCO 2020 can be found at Dr. Chen’s Website, Discord Server and Youtube Channel.
Category 2 - Descriptive Chemistry & Laboratory
Solubility rule
Chlorides vs fluorides
Sulfides & HSAB
Others like sulfates
Volumetric glassware
TC vs TD
Precision of glassware
Error analysis in titrations
Titrant vs analyte (titrate)
Standardization
Rinsing
Category 3 - Gases, Liquids, Solids & Phase Changes
Types and properties of solids
Hardness, bp/mp, conductivity
Existence of molecules
Examples of network covalent solids
Formula and density of crystals
Phase diagrams
Critical point
Density of liquid and solid
Sublimation
Category 5 - Kinetics
Experimental kinetics
Initial rate method
Pseudo-first order reaction
Rate law derivation
Rate-determining step
Steady-state approximation
Pre-equilibrium approximation
Rate dependence on temperature vs E
Arrhenius equation (two forms)
Forward rate vs backward rate dependence on temperature
Category 6 - Equilibrium
Titration curves
Equivalence point vs end point
pH window and indicator
Half equivalence point and buffer region
Strong-strong vs strong-weak
Titration of polyprotic acid
Multiple equilibria
Dissolution by weak electrolyte formation
Dissolution by complex formation
Category 7 - Redox/Electrochemistry
Products of electrolysis
HSO/NaOH
NaCl/KI/CuSO
AgF
E dependence on concentration - Nernst Equation
Concentration cell
K measurement by electrochemistry
E-pH diagram
Category 8 - Atomic Structures/Periodicity
Prediction of decay mode
Cu/C
Radial wavefunction of orbitals
Category 9 - Molecular Structures/Bonding
Molecule orbitals theory
O/O/O/O
NO/NO/NO
Magnetism
Delocalization vs resonance
“rehybridization” and geometry change
Category 10 - Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry
Isomerism
Structural isomers vs stereoisomers
Geometrical Isomers vs optical isomers (chirality)
Enantiomers vs diastereomers
DBE & strategy of isomer counting
Fundamental organic reactions
Acid-base properties of carboxylic acids/phenols/amines
Esterification and saponification
Oxidation of alcohols
Nucleophilic substitutions
Addition of alkenes
Elimination of alcohols/alkyl halides
Aromaticity and aromatic substitutions
……