U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
About USNCO
About the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad
International Chemistry Olympiad
Rules & Eligibility
Webinars & Other Support
Exam Reference Page
Accessible Periodic Table
Information for Coordinators
The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad is a multi-tiered competition designed to stimulate and promote achievement in high school chemistry. It is sponsored by the American Chemical Society.
Local Chemistry Olympiad competitions are open to all high school students in the United States. Local competitions take place each March in collaboration with ACS Local Sections.
Top performers at the local level advance to the National Chemistry Olympiad Exam, which is administered to more than 1,000 students.
The 20 top-scoring students from the National Exam spend two weeks at a Study Camp to undergo rigorous training.
Based on their performance at Study Camp, four students are chosen to represent the U.S. in the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO). The IChO is hosted in July by one of the participating countries.
Students can be proud to participate in any stage of the Olympiad competition to challenge their chemistry knowledge and make connections that may last a lifetime with peers, ACS Local Sections, and even national or international chemistry communities.
Goals of the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad are set by a subcommittee of the Society Committee on Education. The Chemistry Olympiad program aims to:
Stimulate young people to achieve excellence in chemistry
Recognize outstanding chemistry students and, in doing so, encourage additional learning at a formative time in their intellectual development
Recognize the excellent achievement of teachers and the importance of the school environment
Provide contact between ACS Local Sections and area schools, and foster interest among professional chemists in teaching chemistry
Challenge the chemical knowledge and skills of young students in an international arena
Foster cross-cultural experiences and acquaint students with similarities and differences between themselves and their counterparts from other nations
Since 1984, the ACS Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Chemistry Olympiad Endowment has been the primary sponsor of the U.S. Chemistry Olympiad.
Additional support comes from the University of Maryland at College Park through the faculty and staff of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and in-kind donations of laboratory and lecture space for the students and mentors at the study camp.
Individual private donors and the following corporations supported the program through major financial and/or in-kind donations in 2022:
Carolina Biological Supply Company
Pearson Education Company
Olympiad students working in a lab
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2022 USNCO Summary Report
326 students from 84 countries participated in the 54th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) . Team USA earned one gold and three silver medals.
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