Celebrating the MOLE: Molympics 2019

Molympics is friendly competition between HS chemistry students that emphasizes the use of “the mole”, a chemistry variable used to compare molecules to each other. This competition started between a few chemistry teachers spread out throughout the country as a way to celebrate chemistry in a fun way. It is celebrated on October 23 each year, in collaboration with National Chemistry week, since one mole= 6.02 x 1023particles.
Molympics is set up with 5 events that focus on different aspects of the mole using physical tasks, lab skills and through calculations. Each team is measured on accuracy, speed and clear calculations in each event. This year’s events included calculating the time it would take to make 1 mole of tally marks, flipping 6 moles of water in water bottles to determine the number of water molecules flipped, estimating the mass of one mole of a metal, building a tower of rubber stoppers as high as possible then calculating the height of one mole of rubber stoppers and a relay race of 6 sit-ups, 2 sidesteps, 10 pushups and 23 jumping jacks.

Take a look at the MOLYMPICS in action!