Environmental Chem

[gyourkoshaven]

I guess I just had 2 really easy tests at regionals and states.

[kjhsscioly]

our test at regional was so easy, we got third place, losing a tiebreaker, the score was 98/100

[Cpeterson]

So, I get to do this event at Nationals with no experience because my state doesn't have it as an event. I was wondering if we have to know about alfisols and ultisols and other types of soil. I hope not, because they are confusing.

[Avis_de-Incendia]

So, I get to do this event at Nationals with no experience because my state doesn't have it as an event. I was wondering if we have to know about alfisols and ultisols and other types of soil. I hope not, because they are confusing.

I don't think you do... it's mainly Ph, concentration, and contaminants, as well as processing of soil for testing.

[Cpeterson]

So, I get to do this event at Nationals with no experience because my state doesn't have it as an event. I was wondering if we have to know about alfisols and ultisols and other types of soil. I hope not, because they are confusing.

I don't think you do... it's mainly Ph, concentration, and contaminants, as well as processing of soil for testing.

Thanks.

[emilyy18]

At our states, they asked us what was the dominant soil type in New York, but idk how they could do that at nationals, unless there is one dominant soil type across the country? idk I wouldn't worry about it

[Phenylethylamine]

So, I get to do this event at Nationals with no experience because my state doesn't have it as an event. I was wondering if we have to know about alfisols and ultisols and other types of soil. I hope not, because they are confusing.

Actually, there's been at least one question on that stuff- it's the USDA soil taxonomy- on every event I've done. Questions like, "What classification of soil is the most fertile?"
Now, that's different from what they asked at NY States; when they asked the dominant soil type, the choices were things like aquic, xeric, etc. Those are just jargon adjectives that have little to do with the USDA taxonomy; the prefix "xer-" just means dry (if I'm not mistaken). Obviously they couldn't ask a question exactly like that at Nats, since they couldn't ask you for a country-wide dominant soil type, but they could ask more general questions like, "What is the dominant soil class above 66.5 N latitude?"- because in the polar regions, the dominant soil class is gelisols, the ones with the permafrost.

In short, yes, you do have to know about them. Sorry.

[The Great Questioner]

I think that it is an awesome event. Our team is going to nationals and I am in that event. It was good at regionals, however, the test sucked at state. I am excited to go to nationals and see if the test is good!

[The Great Questioner]

I was also surprised because at my state competion, they didn't ask a single question about soil taxonomy, but i have it on my notes anyway. Who knows what the national test will have. Go to the official site and print out a practice test. It was very easy. Also, my coach for that event has a list of the possible ideas that could be on the test like what you can prepare for. If you look hard enough, you might find it on the science olypiad website.

[gyourkoshaven]

Now, that's different from what they asked at NY States; when they asked the dominant soil type of the state

I've had that type of question happen in a bunch of events at states, especially ecology and this event, but I'm sure, but I doubt it will be on nats, as previously suggested