INChO (Indian National Chemistry Olympiad) Exam Survival Guide

Window: Concept + Calculation + Mechanism | Areas: Physical, Organic, Inorganic

Must-do topics

• Physical: thermodynamics (ΔG, K), electrochem (Nernst), kinetics (orders), colligatives
• Organic: GOC (acidity/basicity, resonance, I/E effects), stereochem, carbonyl chemistry, aromatics (SEAr), named reactions
• Inorganic: periodic trends, coordination (CFSE, isomerism), qualitative analysis patterns

Top traps (avoid)

• Ignoring conditions (solvent, temp, catalyst) in mechanisms
• Nernst & pH log mistakes; wrong significant figures
• Forgetting counter-ions/charge balance in inorganic

Study split
35% problem sets | 35% mechanisms + spectroscopy basics | 20% theory sheets | 10% timed mocks

Last-48h checklist

• 10 electrochem/kinetics numericals
• 20 mechanism flashcards (arrow pushing, reagents → products)
• Coordination: draw isomers + count d-e⁻, CFSE quick

Quick facts/frames

• ΔG = −RT ln K = −nFE; Nernst: E=E∘−0.0591nlog⁡[red][ox]E=E^\circ-\frac{0.0591}{n}\log\frac{[red]}{[ox]}E=E∘−n0.0591​log[ox][red]​ at 25 °C
• Carbocation stability: resonance > 3° > 2° > 1°; directing effects table
• Coordination: oxidation state, d-count, H.S./L.S. via Δo vs P

Speed tactics

• Write species with charges; balance atoms & charge together
• State the rate law and units; check order consistency

Exam-day mini-plan
Do Physical numericals first → Organic mechanisms → Inorganic reasoning; 15 min at end for sig-figs/units/charges check