Facts about Chemistry

Chemistry is a branch of science that studies the matter, its properties, composition, and reactivity. It also study how and why substances form and separate to form another substance. Chemistry is often feared by students or considered as boring by others but the truth is chemistry is a mystery. Those who understand the subject love it those unable to understand simply ignore it. This blog post will introduce you to the other side of Chemistry.
1. Air becomes liquid at about minus 190 degrees Celsius.
2. Dynamite contains peanuts as an ingredient.
3. Dry ice is a solid form of Carbon-dioxide.
4. Oxygen, in liquid form, gives off a beautiful pale blue color.
5. Astatine is the rarest naturally occurring element on Earth. According to conservative estimates, there are only 28 grams of the element in our planet’s crust.
6. Although it is still debated, it is largely recognized that the word 'chemistry' comes from an Egyptian word meaning 'earth'.
7. Chalk is made of trillions of microscopic skeleton fossils of plankton.
8. Lemons have more sugar than strawberries.
9. Gallium has a melting point of 29.76 degrees centigrade and can melt on the palm of your hand.
10. Lobster blood is colorless until it’s exposed to air. The blood then appears to be blue.
11. When water freezes it expands
12. The ethylene gas produced by a ripening apple ripens other apples as well as many other types of fruits.
13. If you pour a handful of salt into a full glass of water, the water level will actually go down rather than overflowing the glass.
14. Every hydrogen atom in your body is likely 13.5 billion years old because they were created at the birth of the Universe.
15.DNA doesn’t catch fire.

15 Fascinating Facts about Mathematics

All of us have studied Mathematics at some time in our lives. Some of us love it so much that we choose to make it our career while some of us are scared of it as if we haven’ come across something as scarier than Maths. We have compiled a list of fascinating Mathematics facts that would give you the knowledge you didn’t receive in school.

1. Maths has a magical digit. Yes! It is number 9. This is because if you multiply a number with 9 and add all the digit of the resulting number, the sum would always give you a number 9. Lets see how 9*8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9. 9*4 = 36, 3 + 6 = 9.

2. Among all shapes with the same perimeter, a circle has the largest area.

3. A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second

4. The word “hundred” comes from the old Norse term, “hundrath”, which actually means 120 and not 100.

5. The symbol for division (÷) is called an obelus.

6. In sunflower, the sequence followed by many spherically spiral patterns in a bud follows Fibonacci series.

7. Not many people believe, but it is accepted and proven that ‘zero’ is an Even Number.

8. Have you ever wondered what comes after a trillion? A quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, nonillion, decillion, and undecillion.

9. The numbers on opposite sides of a dice always add up to seven

10. e^i*pi + 1 = 0 is the most important equation of Maths.

11. PI never repeats and never ends when written in decimal numbers. It is irrational

12. 111,111,111 × 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321.

13. There's not enough space in the known universe to write out a googolplex on paper.

14. Ancient Babylonians did math in base 60 instead of base 10. That’s why we have 60 seconds in a minute and 360 degrees in a circle.

15. 2520 is the smallest number that can be completely divided by all the numbers 1 to 10.

We hope you liked these facts as much as we did while compiling them for you. For more interesting facts and knowledgeable content stay tuned to ntsetips.

National Level Science Talent Search Examination

NSTS examination helps students improve their overall learning ability and educational performance. It measures how well a student has understood the concepts and provides a detailed analysis of the same. Often students start fearing a subject because of a conceptual gap. NSTSE helps student fill those conceptual gaps by providing feedback on all the important academic concepts. Every higher-level competitive exam is based on strong fundamental – base. Hence, NSTSE help students build a fundamental strength that would prepare them for high-level competitive examinations like IIT-JEE, GMAT, GRE, CAT, etc. NSTSE is conducted Unified Council and it emphasizes on Mathematics and Science assessment scholastic skills.

Eligibility

NSTSE follows syllabus provided by CBSE but question papers are also suitable for students of ICSE/ISC and various other boards.

Students studying in Classes II to X are eligible for this examination

Students studying in Class XI and XII of PCM and PCB stream are also eligible for this examination. However, there is no examination for students of PCMB group.

Exam Pattern

Each class has a different question paper. All questions are objective type and have no negative marking. The exam is conducted for a duration of 60 minutes for all classes.

Class	No. of Questions	Marks
1	40	40
2	50	50
3 to 12	60	60

Class-wise division of marks in the question paper are as follows:

Class	Division of marks
Class 1	Mathematics: 15 General Science: 25
Class 2	Mathematics: 20 General Science: 30
Class 3,4, 5	Mathematics: 25 General Science: 30 Critical Thinking: 05
Class 6, 7, 8, 9, 10	Mathematics: 25 Physics: 10 Chemistry: 10 Biology: 10 Critical thinking: 05
Class 11 & 12 (PCM)	Mathematics: 25 Physics: 15 Chemistry: 15 Critical thinking: 05
Class 11 & 12 (PCB)	Biology: 25 Physics: 15 Chemistry: 15 Critical thinking: 05

Registration and Exam fee

Students can register through direct/ individual applications for the NSTSE. Exam fee for direct/individual registration is Rs. 300 (The fee includes 2 Past/Model Question Paper, SPR, Success Series Book and Postal charges). Click here for registration. Students can also register through their respective schools; the exam fee for registration through school is Rs. 150. NSTSE also provides student’s performance report for Rs. 15.

Exam schedule

NSTSE 2019-2020 will be conducted on 04 December 2019 (Wednesday) from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Date of examination for individual/direct applicants will be 15 December 2019 (Sunday). The last date for registration is 05 October 2019.

Students are requested to register for NSTSE before the last date. Late applications will not be accepted in any circumstances. For more details regarding competitive examinations, stay tuned to ntsetips.

International Social Science Olympiad

ISSO is conducted every year by Silverzone Foundation. The main aim of the Silverzone Social Science Olympiad is to encourage and develop the insight of a student into all kinds of Social Situation. This exam tests the proficiency level of a student in academics. It also analyzes their decision making, creative thinking, and critical analyzing abilities. 

Exam Details

The International Social Studies Olympiad will be conducted on 21st November 2019 and 20th December 2019. The exam is organized in the respective schools of the candidate’s during the school hours. It comprises of 40 multiple choice questions (MCQ) for Class I and II, and 50 multiple-choice questions MCQ) for the classes III to X. The question paper consists of two sections: Section I – Social Science and Section II – Scholar’s Zone. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes and is conducted in English language only.

Registration Details

The prospectus containing the registration forms are sent to all the schools registered with Silverzone Foundation. The schools which are not registered can also request for the forms. The school must submit the registration forms, properly filled in and complete in all respects, by the due date to Silverzone Foundation. The registration fee for the examination is Rs. 125 for each student.

Awards

The following awards are awarded to the students who manage to qualify the ISSO:

Rank No.	Award
1st	1st Intl. Olympiad rank holder in each class will be awarded a Cash Prize of Rs. 15,000/- along with a winner’s Trophy.
2nd	2nd Intl. Olympiad rank holder in each class will be awarded a Cash Prize of Rs. 10,000/- along with a winner’s Trophy.
3rd	3rd Intl. Olympiad rank holder in each class will be awarded a Cash Prize of Rs. 7,500/- along with a winner’s Trophy.
4th to 25th	4th to 25th Intl. Olympiad rank holders in each class will be awarded wristwatches.

ISSO is just around the corner. Students must register themselves as early as possible. More information regarding ISSO results and syllabus is available on https://www.silverzone.org/SubjectInfo/isso. Stay tuned on ntsetips for more information on various competitive examinations. 

National Biotechnology Olympiad

National Biotechnology Olympiad is organized every year by EduHeal Foundation. The main purpose of this exam is to spread awareness about Biotechnology by adding an element of challenge and competition through this exam. Medical Council of India, Government of India has also agreed to let students who take up biotechnology in 11th/12th to compete in Pre- Medical Tests (PMT) especially All India CBSE PMT.

Eligibility Criteria and Examination Details

All the students of Class 1 to Class 12 of CBSE, ICSE, and State Board are eligible for this Olympiad. The last date of registration for NBTO 2019 is August 3, 2019. The exams will be conducted at participating schools. Date of the examination will be selected by the school between the duration of July 2019 to January 2020.

Exam Pattern

Exam paper for all the classes consists of 40 questions which are supposed to be solved within 30 minutes. The questions are in the form of multiple-choice questions.

Class	Section	Number of Questions
I-XII	Mental/General Ability	5
	Subject	35
	Total	40

Application Form and Admit Card

The application forms are available to students since June 2019. The last date of registration is August 3, 2019. The application form fee for regular entry is Rs. 150. Certain information shall be filled by the schools and forms are to be sent by the school only. The admit cards will be distributed to affiliated schools. Students are requested to check if all the information given in the admit card is correct or not.

All the students who are interested in National Biotechnology Olympiad are requested to register themselves before August 3. For all the other information regarding the exam and result, the student can visit the official website. For more information on various competitive examinations stay tuned to ntsetips. 

Indian National Mathematical Olympiad

Indian Mathematical Olympiad is conducted and regulated by the National Board for Higher Mathematics (NBHM). The main purpose of the exam is to identify mathematical talents among pre-university students in the country. It is a 6 stage selection process: 

Stage 1 – Pre-Regional Mathematical Olympiad 

PRMO is conducted by the Mathematics Teachers’ Association. The result of PRMO will be recognized by HBCSE for further selection processes. In order to be eligible for the second stage, it is mandatory for the students to qualify PRMO. It is a two and a half hour examination with 30 questions. The answer to each question is either a single-digit number or a two-digit number. 

Stage 2 – Regional Mathematical Olympiad 

The RMO is a 3-hour examination with 6 problems. RMO is conducted in English, Hindi, and other regional languages. The questions involve a high level of difficulty. The syllabus for the same may be found here. 

Stage 3 – The Indian National Mathematical Olympiad 

Approximately 900 best performing students from the RMO qualify for the third stage. INMO is held on the third Sunday of January at 28 centers across the country. 

Stage 4 - The International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp 

Approximately top 35 students from INMO qualify for stage 4 – The International Mathematical Olympiad Training Camp held at HBCSE from April to May. At this camp, orientation is provided to students for the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). Emphasis is laid on developing conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills. Several selection tests are held during this camp. On the basis of performance of these tests, six students are selected to represent India at IMO. 

Stage 5 – Training Programme 

The selected students undergo a rigorous training program for about 8-10 days at HBCSE. 

Stage 6 – International Mathematical Olympiad 

The Olympiad program culminates with the participation of the students in the IMO. The students are accompanied by 4 teachers or mentors. 

Eligibility and Enrollment 

Candidates born on or after August 1, 2000, and studying in Class 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 are eligible to write PRMO 2019. Further, the candidates must be Indian citizens. It is each student’s responsibility to determine if he/she satisfies the eligibility criteria for each stage. If at any stage it is found that the student is not eligible for the exam, he/she will be immediately disqualified from the program. For instructions on how to enroll for PRMO 2019 please visit http://www.mtai.org.in/activities/exams/prmo/

The registration for INMO will start in June 2020. Students who meet the eligibility criteria are requested to follow the official website. Stay tuned for more information on INMO and IMO as well as other examinations. 

Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana

KVPY is initiated and funded by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to motivate exceptional students to pursue basic science courses and research career in science. It is conducted to ensure the growth of best scientific mind for research and development in the country. 

Eligibility 

Students studying in class XI to 1st year of any undergraduate program in basic science namely B.Sc./B.S./B.Stat./B.Math./Int. M.Sc./M.S. in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology are eligible for KVPY. Fellowships are provided up to the pre Ph.d level to the selected KVPY fellows. Click here for detailed eligibility criteria. 

Selection Procedure 

Committees are set up at IISc to screen the application. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are called for aptitude test at different centers across the country. Based on the performance in the aptitude test, candidates get short-listed and are called for a final interview. 

Application and Exam Details 

Students must register themselves online for the KVPY through the official website. After the registration, candidates are required to pay the fees: For General/OBC the fee is Rs. 1000, and for SC/ST/PWD it is Rs. 500.

Important Dates

Opening of online application portal	08 July, 2019
Date for closing of online application	20th August 2019 at 5:00 PM
Download Admit card	Second week of October 2019
Exam Date	3rd November 2019

All students should fill up their application form before the deadline. Please read all the important instructions before filling the application forms. Students must start preparing for the aptitude test and interview as the time is limited. Stay tuned for more information about various exams and scholarship program.

National Science Olympiad

National Science Olympiad is conducted every year by the Science Olympiad Foundation. All the students of class 1 to 12 are eligible for the exam. The main purpose of SOF is to popularise academic competition and the development of competitive spirit among school children. 

Exam details

The prospectus and the Registration forms are sent to all schools registered with SOF. The exam is conducted in two levels. Level one is conducted in the respective schools of the candidates during the school hour only. The exam will be of duration 60 minutes and would consist of 35 questions for the students of class 1 to 4 and 50 questions for the students of class 5 to 12. The questions will be objective type multiple-choice questions. 

The question paper consists of three sections. 

For Class 1 to 10

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Section 2: Science

Section 3: Achievers Section 

For Class 11 and 12

Section 1: Physics/Chemistry

Section 2: Achievers Section

Section 3: Mathematics/Biology 

Level two is conducted for the students of Class 3 to 12 

Top 5% of candidates, class-wise, who appear in the 1st level exam, top 25 rank holders class and Zone wise, Class topper where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam and obtain 50% qualifying marks are all eligible for the level 2 exam. 

Awards and Scholarship 

SOF will spend over Rs. 18 Crores on awards, Scholarships, gifts & felicitations, etc. The awards will be provided to the winners of SOF National Science Olympiad being held during the academic year 2019-20. International & Zone topper awards will be provided to 2nd level winners. For classes 1 & 2, awards will be provided to 1st level winners. 

Awards for level two performance and for Class 1 and 2 

At International Level 

• Scholarship of Rs 50,000 + Gold medal + certificate for outstanding performance will be provided to 12 students who manage to achieve 1st Rank. 
• Scholarship of Rs 25,000 + Silver medal + certificate for outstanding performance will be provided to 12 students who manage to achieve 2nd Rank. 
• Scholarship of Rs 10,000 + Bronze medal + certificate for outstanding performance will be provided to 12 students who manage to achieve 3rd Rank. 

At Zonal Level

• Scholarship of Rs 5,000 + Gold Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence will be provided to 252 students who manage to achieve 1st Rank.
• Scholarship of Rs 2,500 + Silver Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence will be provided to 252 students who manage to achieve 2nd Rank.
• Scholarship of Rs 1,000 + Bronze Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence will be provided to 252 students who manage to achieve 3rd Rank.
• Gifts Worth Rs.1000 + Medal of Distinction + Certificate of Distinction + Certificate of Zonal Excellence will be provided to 1764 students who manage to achieve between 4th to 10th Rank.
• Medal of Distinction + Certificate of Distinction + Certificate of Zonal Excellence will be provided to 3780 students who manage to achieve between 11th to 25th Rank.
• Merit Certificate will be awarded to all the students who manage to achieve 26th or above Rank 

For more information regarding various exams and scholarship program kindly visit - https://www.ntseguru.in/

Tips and tricks to solve calendar problems in NTSE MAT

NTSE MAT section can get very lengthy and confusing, with 100 questions to solve in 120 minutes. Calendar is one of the important topics to pay attention to while preparing for NTSE. Every year at least one question based on calendar appears in MAT section. In NTSE, you cannot afford to lose even one mark especially when you are capable of solving all the questions. We have come up with this blog post to give you a little push to help you ace all the problems related to calendar.

Tip 1: To solve questions based on calendar, you need to memorize some important codes:

Year	Codes
1600-1699	6
1700-1799	4
1800-1899	2
1900-1999	0
2000-2099	6
2100-2199	4
2200-2299	2

Memorising these codes is easy, just remember 6402. The year code for code 1600-1699 is 6, for 1700-1799 is 4 and so on. 

Months	Codes
January	0
February	3
March	3
April	6
May	1
June	4
July	6
August	2
September	5
October	0
November	3
December	5

Memorising month codes could be a little challenging but it would really help you solve the questions in no time.

Day	Code
Sunday	0
Monday	1
Tuesday	2
Wednesday	3
Thursday	4
Friday	5
Saturday	6

How to find the ‘day’ when you know the date, month, and year.

Steps to solve a question with example:

What was the day on ’11-06-1996’ ?

1.       Add the digits of the date to the last two digits of the year.	11 + 96 = 107
2.       Divide the last two digit of the year by 4.	96/4 = 24
3.       Now, add the quotient value obtained from step 2 to the result obtained from step 1.	107 + 24 = 131
4.       Add month and year code to result obtained from step 3.	131 + 4 (month code) + 0 (year code) = 135
5.       Divide the result obtained from step 4 by 7.	135/7 Quotient – 10. 3 Reminder – 02
6.       Match the reminder obtained from step 5 to the day code.	Reminder obtained – 02 So, the day was a Tuesday.

This trick would definitely make solving problems related to Calendar easier and faster. Students are urged to learn the correct year and month codes. Failure in learning correct codes would lead to incorrect answer. For more tips and tricks for NTSE, stay tuned to ntsetips.