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What do Nacho Cheese Doritos, swimming pools, and medieval Uzbek mineralogy have in common? They were all part of this year’s UK Round One of the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (UKChO) 2026, where St Andrews students took on one of the most challenging chemistry competitions available to school students.
From exploring how compounds in Doritos can temporarily make mouse skin transparent to analysing the chemistry behind substances found in swimming pools, the paper pushed students to think far beyond the classroom. Other topics included the uniquely pungent isocyanides, often described by chemists as the “Godzilla of smells”, as well as henna tattoos and historical mineral chemistry.
Our Year 12 students rose brilliantly to the occasion, demonstrating curiosity, resilience, and a deep understanding of chemistry in unfamiliar contexts.
The UK Chemistry Olympiad is a prestigious, voluntary two-hour written examination designed to stretch high-performing students beyond the standard curriculum. Rather than focusing on memorisation, it challenges participants to apply their knowledge to unfamiliar problems and real-world scenarios.
As Nathan M. reflected: “Every question in the UKChO was a great opportunity for me to learn something new, and to approach chemistry from a different perspective. It has definitely challenged me to think beyond just memorisation, and to apply chemistry in unfamiliar scenarios.”
It is widely recognised as a valuable enrichment opportunity, helping students develop advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Participation also strengthens university applications, particularly for students interested in pursuing science-related degrees.
We are proud to celebrate a strong set of results this year:
Kenji achieved a Gold Award
Eclair achieved a Silver Award
Punn Punn, Kate, Raphael, Nathan M, and Plearn each achieved Bronze Awards
David, Herry, Pita, Emmy, Nathan K., and Noop each received Participant Awards.
Every Year 12 student who took part showed initiative and commitment by volunteering to sit this demanding exam, and their efforts reflect a growing culture of academic curiosity and excellence within the school.
Kenji’s Gold Award places him in the top 8.5% of students nationally who participated in the Olympiad. As a result, he has been offered a place at the UKChO Signature Cambridge Chemistry Camp at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.
Reflecting on his experience, Kenji shared: “UKChO was a great learning experience that I enjoyed practising for. I would highly recommend this challenge to fellow students who are looking to stretch their chemistry knowledge like me.”
Students described the Olympiad as both challenging and rewarding, offering new ways of thinking about chemistry.
“Every chemistry problem looks manageable until the mark scheme disagrees.” — Nathan
“It was challenging in many aspects of general chemistry with their use of real-world applications in their questions.” — Herry
“The Olympiad was a fun but rigorous experience I was able to participate in. It helped me develop my problem-solving and critical thinking skills.” — David
“A very interesting and fun test of my abilities, which I really need to refine.” — Punn Punn
“Chemistry taught me that even the smallest particles can make a big difference. The real gold medal was the covalent bonds we formed along the way.” — Noop
“Overall, it was a challenging yet rewarding experience.” — Nathan M.
Together, these reflections highlight not only the academic difficulty of the Olympiad but also the growth, enjoyment, and sense of connection students experienced along the way.
This year’s participation began with just a few interested students but quickly grew into a larger lunchtime training group as more students joined.
Mr Marc, Head of Chemistry, reflected on this achievement, “I am very proud that the Olympiad at STA this year was initiated by one or two Year 12 students who wanted to compete. As the news spread, our lunchtime training group kept growing. It is fantastic that they love the subject, the learning process and challenging themselves. Well done to all the students who volunteered their time to prepare and take on the challenge.”
The success of our students in the UK Chemistry Olympiad 2026 highlights not only academic excellence but also a genuine enthusiasm for learning and discovery.
We look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead, with more students stepping forward to take on the challenge and explore the fascinating world of chemistry beyond the classroom.