No.

1Jul. 25

2021

Message

It is our great pleasure to host the 53rd International Chemistry
Olympiad (IChO2021), a competition so rich in history since
the first one in 1968, and to welcome very talented young students
from 79 countries and regions around the world.
As important as it is as an academic subject, chemistry is also thebasis for creating materials and substances with a vast range offunctions that constantly supports our daily lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still plaguing the world. Chemistry isplaying a vital role in the fight against COVID-19 by being applied
for PCR and antigen testing to detect infection and its history andfor the manufacture of COVID-19 treatment drugs.
Moreover, we expect chemistry to greatly contribute to achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals, including the stable supply offood, the recycling of waste, and so on.

All the students participating in IChO2021 have the potential
to address these various shared problems of the world andto open up a new path for humankind. It is a crucial issue forgovernments around the world to discover their talents and create
an environment to develop fully these capabilities.
The International Science Olympiads, including IChO, haveprovided various opportunities for talented students to challenge,
and contributed to discovering such students and fostering their

Cover illustration : Opening Celemony

capabilities. As the host country, Japan will make its utmost efforts
to support this mission.

Because of COVID-19, like the previous Olympiad, IChO2021 will
be held online. The organizers are planning to make full use of VR
technology and avatar technology to provide remote tours to bothstate-of-the-art and traditional science and technology facilities,
which large groups of people cannot usually visit. Unfortunately
you will not be able to have direct interaction, however, with thecreative use of these technologies, you will be able to overcome thebarriers of distance and space to connect with your peers.

We hope that all of you representing your countries at thisOlympiad will fully demonstrate your real abilities and the resultsof your efforts, improve yourselves through competitions, andmake lasting friendships with peers.
It is our sincere wish that you all continue yourself-improvement and make the most of yourexperiences to play active roles in leading
your countries and the world.

HAGIUDA Koichi

the Minister of Education, Culture,Sports, Science and Technology

Welcome Address atthe Opening Ceremony on July 25
IChO2021 Japan

Iam Kohei Tamao. Thank you for your kind introduction. It isa great pleasure and honor for me to say a few words at theopening ceremony of the 53rd International Chemistry Olympiad,
IChO2021 Japan.

Dear talented high school students, mentors, scientific observers,
guests, distinguished scholars, invigilators, Steering Committee
members, and colleagues from all over the world, welcome to theOpening Ceremony of IChO2021 Japan.
Originally, we had been preparing to hold IChO2021 Japan at
Kindai University, one of the biggest private universities in Japan,
located in the lively and modern commercial city of Osaka in midwest Japan, also known as the birthplace of chemical research inthis country.
However, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we had
no choice but to hold IChO2021 remotely, following the lead ofIChO2020 Turkey last year.
This is the result of giving top priority to the safety of ouryoung talented students and all participants, even at the expenseof practical examinations and opportunities for in-person
international exchange. I would like to thank all the International
Steering Committee members led by Dr. Gábor Magyarfalvi for
their enthusiastic discussion and acceptance of our decision.

Even under the difficult conditions presented by the COVID-19
pandemic, the good news is that we have accepted registrations
from 85 countries and regions of the 89 to which we sentinvitations. More than 320 students have been registered. I would
like to express my sincere gratitude and respect for the wonderful
efforts of mentors, teachers, and all concerned in each country to
select talented students and set up the examination sites.
The theoretical examinations will be held on July 28th in eachcountry, and the examination results, including gold, silver andbronze medalists, will be announced in the closing ceremony on
August 2nd.
I am confident that the remote examinations on July 28th will
be carried out in an atmosphere of justice, fairness, and trust,
maintaining the spirit of IChO across space and time. It is mysincere hope that all the participating students will do their very
best, showcasing the talents and skills they demonstrate every day.
As we are unable to hold the practical examinations, we have
prepared a demonstration video of the practical tasks.
To compensate for the fact that the participants cannot meetin person, we will offer various initiatives for students to create
international friendships and become familiar with Japaneseculture and the state of art, science, and technology in this country.
For that purpose, VR avatars for all students have been preparedto facilitate remote networking and to give greater realism tovirtual visits to sensitive areas such as the restoration site ofan ancient Buddha statue and the world’s largest synchrotron
radiation facility, SPring-8, to which access is normally prohibited.

Dear students, now I would like to ask you to keep the following
three things in mind, as you are about to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime
valuable experience.
First, you have been given hope and courage to overcome difficulties
through your participation in this remote IChO2021 Japan.
Second, the unprecedented difficulties we have been facing canonly be overcome by international friendships and trust. Thus,
you should show gratitude and respect to your mentors, teachers,
invigilators, and all others who have contributed to make this majorinternational event a reality, despite the obstacles faced.
Third, I want you to remember that chemistry, the central science,is all around us. Chemistry must therefore play a key role in finding
solutions for many global challenges, including energy, environmental,
and resource-related issues that humanity is now facing.

I hope that IChO2021 Japan helps to foster many talented youngpeople who will go on to play roles as future world leaders. While you
do not have the opportunity to meet each other in person this time, I
am convinced that one day you may meet each other somewhere in
the world when you go to university or graduate school. I sincerely
hope that you take the opportunities given to you as participants inthis remote IChO2021 to create strong networks of international
friendship, with the slogan “ Chemistry! It’s Cool!” as your watchword.

Finally, I would like to thank the Ministry of Education, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT Japan) and the Japan Science andTechnology Agency (JST) for their meaningful support, and the morethan 180 chemical companies and trading companies in Japan as
our sponsors for their substantial financial assistance, as well as
numerous personal donations.
My special thanks are also due to all the members of the JapanCommittee and Organizing Committee for IChO2021 Japan, as wellas our secretariat and KNT Corporate Business Company, Ltd., asrepresented by the Vice President of the Japan Committee and Chairof the Fundraising Committee Dr. Kyohei Takahashi, Chairs of theFinance Committee the late Dr. Tadao Kondo and Dr. Teiji Koge,
Chair of the Executive Committee Professor Yoshiki Chujo, Chair ofthe Scientific Committee Professor Hiroshi Nishihara, and memberof the International Steering Committee Professor Nobuhiro Kihara.
Without their remarkable support and endeavors, this remote
IChO2021 Japan would not be possible.
Now, it is my great pleasure to officiallydeclare remote IChO2021 Japan open.
Thank you very much for yourkind attention.

Schedule of Remote IChO2021
DateOpening Ceremony (Virtual Reality Venue)
VR Closed

Jul 26, Mon

VR Closed

Jul 27, Tue

VR Closed

Examination (5 hours)

08:0002:00

Receive the problem

21:00

14:00

08:00

Deadline of feedback

09:00

02:00

20:00

Jury meeting

21:00

14:00

08:00

09:00

02:00

20:00

Deadline of translation

09:00

02:00

20:00

[Invigilator] Receive and print out the problem

11:00

04:00

22:00

Translation
14:00

07:00

01:00

05:00
(Jul 29)

22:00

16:00

submission[Invigilator] Submit the solutions (Within 2 hours after the end of the examination)

Receive the solution and the grading scheme

Jul 29, Thu

Video:
Practical Examination explanation

Receive grading(from Organizer, Request arbitration)

Deadline of request, Jury meetingActivity
Video:History and Culture of Nara

America (west)

Aug 1, Sun

Activity

Receive final results

02:00

20:00

09:00

02:00

20:00

21:00

14:00

08:00

EuropeAmerica (east)

Closing Ceremony (Virtual Reality Venue): JST = UTC + 9: CET = UTC + 2 (summer time): EST = UTC - 4 (summer time)
The VR video programs will be opened at 00:00 JST on each day.

Nobel Prize
Research fromJapan 01

Asia

09:00

02:00

20:00

09:00

02:00

20:00

21:00

14:00

08:00

Activity Video:Himeji Castle, Osaka, and Kyoto

Video:Himeji Castle, Osaka, and Kyoto

Aug 2, Mon▼▼▼Arbitration▼▼▼

Jul 31, SatH

09:00

Activity (SPring-8 Virtual tour)▼▼▼

Jul 30, Fri

15:00

Receive the authorized problem

Start between

Jul 28, WedMentor▼▼▼

Jul 25, Sun

Student

00:00(Brown color letters) : The night before

Frontier Orbital Theory

ow do chemical reactions occur? For chemistry students,
the frontier orbitals called HOMO (Highest OccupiedMolecular Orbital) and LUMO (Lowest Unoccupied MolecularOrbital) are extremely important. This concept of frontier orbitals

was conceived by Kenichi Fukui, who in 1952 proposed thatelectrophilic substitution reactions in aromatic hydrocarbons

occur at the position with the highest coefficient of HOMO,

while nucleophilic reactions are determined by the coefficient

Kenichi Fukuiof LUMO. This was an epoch-making

concept, completely different from theconventional theory of organic electronics,
which was based mainly on electron density.

Photo by Kagaku-Dojin

Dr. Kenichi Fukui( 1918-1998 )In 1964, he further developed this theory by pointing out thatthe symmetry and phases of the HOMO and LUMO of the reacting
molecule play important roles in cycloaddition reactions such asthe Diels–Alder reaction. In 1981, he was awarded the Nobel Prizein Chemistry for “the theories concerning the course of chemicalreactions,” together with Roald Hoffmann, who separately

published the Woodward–Hoffmann rules in 1965. Fukui was thefirst Japanese chemist and Asian person to be awarded the prize,
which had until then been won by researchers from Europe andthe United States. Today, the concept of HOMO–LUMO is widelyused not only in chemical reactions and physical properties of
Frontier orbitals of naphthalene. a) HOMO. b) LUMO.
The arrows show locations where reactivity is higher.

molecules themselves, but also in molecular electronics, organic

electroluminescence, enzymatic reactions, and electron transfer
in interactions in biomolecules such as proteins.

F

COVID-19 andmRNA Vaccines
or certain infectious diseases, it is empirically known that oncea person is infected they will not contract the disease again. ThisDoshomachi

1“Medicine Town” and Sukunahikona ShrineIn the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537 to 1598), drug

wholesalers were concentrated in the Doshomachi area ofis due to the function of the immune system, which remembers theOsaka in accordance with the government’s commercial policy.

function. Less virulent viruses or bacteria, as well as a portion ofand Holland. Drug wholesalers who imported drugs from thosedisease they have been infected with and can quickly eliminate thepathogen on the second infection. Vaccines make use of this biologicalthe pathogen (protein or polysaccharide), can be administered as avaccine. This allows the immune system to remember the pathogen
and prevent infection. Vaccines against COVID-19, a new type ofcoronavirus, which has had a major impact on our lives since 2020,are being vigorously developed around the world, resulting in thedevelopment of mRNA vaccines. Unlike conventional vaccines, mRNA

vaccines deliver mRNA, the gene for the pathogen protein, into thehuman body. Although mRNA vaccines have been studied since the1990s, they have not been put to practical use due to a number ofdrawbacks, including the following: 1) mRNA is not stable in vivo, 2)

mRNA is not very efficient in the production of proteins, and 3) it isnot easy to deliver mRNA into cells. Development of effective mRNADuring the isolationist period of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603to 1867), exchange with foreign nations was restricted to China

two countries established their businesses in Doshomachi,
forming an officially approved guild, or Kabunakama, called theYakushunakagainakama. In 1721, the Tokugawa government
established an agency in Doshomachi for checking the quality ofmedicinal products made in Japan (Wayakushu aratame kaisho).
Hence, all medicines commercially traded throughout Japan

passed through Doshomachi first. All these historical connections
led to Doshomachi being home to many pharmaceuticalcompanies, making it Japan’s first “medicine town,” followed laterby Nihonbashi Honcho in Tokyo.

vaccines proceeded by solving these issues one by one. This was done
through introducing artificial structures into the mRNA to prevent

degradation by metabolism, and optimizing the RNA sequence toincrease the efficiency of conversion into protein. Furthermore, byencapsulating the mRNA in lipid nanoparticles, researchers succeededin efficiently delivering it into the cell. As a result, an extremely effective
vaccine against coronaviruses has been developed.

How vaccines workInjectionCultureInactivation(Loss of infectivity)

Preparation

Synthesized coronavirus
surface protein
mRNAmRNA Vaccines

nucleus

Lipid coating to promotedelivery to the target cells
COVID-19

Packaged
as a vaccine
Protein on the virus surface is analyzed
and stable and efficient mRNA is synthesized(Kusurinomachi Doshomachi Shiryokan) is a great place tosee exhibits of prescription medicines, instruments, equipments,

Conventional vaccine
Virus

T

he Doshomachi Pharmaceutical and Historical Museum

and other related items used by medical wholesalers. The
Sukunahikona Shrine, a Shinto shrine that is dedicated to medicaldeities, can also be found in Doshomachi.

Captured and memorized
by immune cells
The next time the real virus
invades the body, it is
rapidly eliminatedParticipating Teams
Armenia
Australia
3 Austria
4 Azerbaijan
5 Bangladesh
6 Belarus
7 Belgium
8 Brazil
9 Bulgaria
10 Canada
11 China
12 Chinese Taipei
12

13 Costa Rica

25 Hungary

37 Lithuania

49 Oman

61 Slovenia

15 Cyprus

27 India

39 Malaysia

51 Philippines

63 Sri Lanka

14 Croatia

16 Czech Republic
17 Denmark

18 El Salvador
19 Estonia
20 Finland
21 France

22 Georgia

23 Germany
24 Greece

26 Iceland

28 Indonesia
29 Iran

30 Ireland
31 Israel

32 Japan

33 Kazakhstan
34 Korea

35 Kyrgyzstan
36 Latvia

38 Luxembourg
40 Mexico

41 Moldova

42 Mongolia

43 Montenegro
44 Netherlands

45 New Zealand
46 Nigeria

47 North Macedonia
48 Norway

50 Pakistan
52 Poland

53 Portugal
54 Qatar

55 Romania

62 South Africa
64 Sweden

65 Switzerland
66 Syria

67 Tajikistan

56 Russian Federation 68 Thailand
57 Saudi Arabia
58 Serbia

59 Singapore
60 Slovakia

69 Trinidad and Tobago
70 Turkey

71 Turkmenistan
72 Ukraine

United Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom
75 United States of America
76 Uruguay
77 Uzbekistan
78 Venezuela
79 Vietnam
73
74

Observer Teams
Afghanistan ● Kuwait● Ecuador● Nepal● Egypt● Paraguay●

Early Bird Communication
United Arab Emirates

Vietnam

Georgia

Sweden (Sverige)

Students doing experimentsin the lab and standing in front of
the chemistry department gate.

ToCatalyzer

The Swedish team withthe elements. Good luck with
the Catalyser!

Kazakhstan

Croatia

Bulgaria

Indonesia

This picture was taken
during the IChO training session
on July 5 2021.

Nigeria

We are glad to participate
in 2021 Remote IChO competition.
Regards from Nigeria.

Useful Japanese Phrases
Student●the Kansai dialect

Today's schedule Jul. 25

Opening Ceremony at VR Venue

15:00

08:00

F

02:00

Participants of IChO2021 can attend the opening ceremony from VR space.
Non-participants can also watch the opening ceremony from the IChO2021 website.

Mentor●●Short shortfrom Kansai

I: CET = UTC + 2 (summer time)

Catalyzer No. 0, this edition features Kansai-ben, a dialect

spoken in the Kansai region, where we had originally planned tohold the in-person IChO2021. Let’s all try speaking Kansai-ben!

Opening Ceremony at VR Venue 15:00 08:00 02:00
Receive the problem (Oly-Exam)
21:00 14:00 08:00: JST = UTC + 9

ollowing on from the useful Japanese phrases introduced in: EST = UTC - 4 (summer time)

A Papier-mâché Tiger

n ancient Asia, tigers were considered to be messengers fromthe Gods, and their bones were used as a medicine and in lucky

EnglishStandardJapaneseKansai
Dialect

Good bye

Sayounara

I'm sorry.

Gomennasai Sunmahen すんまへんMy bad.

GomenSuman

すまんThank you!

Arigatou

OhkiniおおきにYesHai

Soya

そやSainara

さいならNoIie

Chauちゃうwas sweeping the world at the time, an apothecary in Doshomachi,

foolishbakamitai

ahokusa

あほくさ

nonsensekudaranai

shoumona しょうもな

Hariko-no-tora, meaning a papier-mâchéstrangeokashina

kettaina

because～ nanode～ yasakai 〜やさかい

tiredtsukareru

shindoi

しんどいHow about? Dou?

Donai?

どない？

McDonald's Mac

Makudo

まくど

FatherTousanOton

おとん

Mother

Kasan

Okan

おかんcharms. In 1822, when Osaka was hit by the cholera epidemic thatOsaka, created a Japanese herbal medicine containing tiger skulls

and distributed it with a tiger-shaped charm made of paper called
tiger. Although the medicine itself
became obsolete, Hariko-no-tora
are still handmade as traditional
crafts. They are popular in theKansai region as lucky charmsthat protect people from disease

and express the wish for healthy
growth of children.

ELEMENT

QUIZ

Q1

けったいな＊These words are just some examples.

A neodymium magnet, known as the world’s strongest permanent
magnet, is made of three elements. Which of the following is thecorrect combination?

(Nd, Pb, B) 		
3 (Nd, Fe, Co) 		
1

2 (Nd, Pd, Fe)
4 (Nd, Fe, B)

1Jul. 25
1908
Patented!

Production methodof Umami flavor(AJINOMOTO)

The answer
to be announced
in the next issue!