Welcome to the YBTC Challenge!

The Challenge is an exciting academic competition that will expand your knowledge of the science of chemistry. The information in CEF's Challenge study materials exposes you to the fascinating world of chemistry as it applies to your everyday life. It shows you how chemicals shape your world.

Read and review the information in the Passport to Science Exploration (Passport), including all relevant examples, to further your understanding of chemistry. Challenge competition questions are based on an overall understanding of chemistry concepts and the relationships among chemistry concepts. Challenge questions are largely derived from information contained in CEF’s study materials but are not limited solely to this information. We encourage you to seek additional examples and explanations of chemistry concepts from outside resources. Doing so will help you answer questions that require you to connect concepts and apply your knowledge of chemistry to both familiar and unfamiliar situations.

The information in the Passport is supplied to help you succeed at every level of the Challenge. The Passport is divided into three sections that correspond to the different levels of the Challenge – local, state, and national.

Please note: Below are the study materials from the 2010-2011 Challenge cycle. The study materials for the 2011-2012 Challenge cycle will be posted in the fall of 2011.

• Study Materials for Local Challenges
  •   Passport to Science Exploration: The Core of Chemistry
  • The Periodic Table handout   
     
• Study Materials for State Challenges
  • Passport to Science Exploration: Chemistry Connections
  • The Periodic Table of Atomic Weights handout
  • You should also continue to review The Core of Chemistry and the Periodic Table handout.   
     
• Study Materials for the National Challenge
  (National Challenge participants: Please be advised that you will receive a hard copy of this portion of the CEF study materials in your participant information packet.)
  • Passport to Science Exploration: Chemistry Concepts in Action
  • You should also continue to review The Core of Chemistry, Chemistry Connections, and the Periodic Table and the Periodic Table of Atomic Weights handouts.   
     
• For other fun chemistry information, visit Newton & Kelvin's Lab! (Coming soon.)