<p>Does anyone know if the Chemistry Olympiad tests you on new, recently updated material? I've been studying from the Atkins Chemical Princiiples a quest for insight book, and I think mine is out of date. My book is the third edition, and the most recent is the fifth. I've seen some errors (ex. the filling order of electron configuration is d orbital before s orbital. This doesn't make any sense, since nowadays we know that the filling order is s orbital before d orbital.)</p>
<p>Should I get a new book and study from that?</p>
<p>It definitely tests you on current knowledge. However, I think you’re looking at a simple typing error; the best remedy for this is to get a newer edition.</p>
<p>To be honest you don’t need a particular book to do well, at least on the local exam. I only used my book for the theory, and its generally one of the worse ones, Chang 9th edition. No Zumdahl, no Atkins. I got a 57/60 mostly be studying ~10 past exams, identifying what I did not know, and working on it. Do that and it won’t really matter what book you have. I don’t recommend getting another book.</p>
<p>I can’t confirm the effects of books on the national exam, since I didn’t do very well on that. Still, the particular book can’t be that important.</p>