Potions & Poisons
This is a HYBRID/LAB event. This event is about chemical properties and effects of specified toxic and therapeutic chemical substances, with a focus on household and environmental toxins or poisons. It consists of a written test & a lab. Up to 2 students per team.
Hybrid Event: An event which contains elements from two, or more, of the other event types in combination. The most common combination mixes elements of a Core Knowledge event with elements of a Building or Lab event. As with the previous events, Hybrid Events may be altered to fit the format of the Science Olympiad Tournament being held. This may mean that Lab or Build elements of the event are modified or not conducted.
Potions & Poisons is in the Physical Science & Chemistry category.
SciOly 2025 ChatBot
- Ask School AI ChatBot about SciOlyThe rules of each of the events can be hard to understand. If you have a question, want some study tips, ask this school-approved chatbot. Please use your real name when you begin the conversation.
Official Science Olympiad Website
- Science Olympiad Website (Nationwide) Here you'll find more resources and all the official information about the national tournament and its rules. Please note, we are Division B (middle school), part of the Lower Hudson Regional tournament, which is held in Scarsdale, NY, so dates and times for our events will differ but rules are the same.
- Lower Hudson Regional Science Olympiad Competition Website Information about the regional competition in Scarsdale will be posted here.
Books & eBooks on Potions and Poisons
A Project Guide to Chemistry by ISBN: 1584159685Publication Date: 2011Explores the invisible atomic world with easy projects on chemistry and chemical reactions that burn oxygen in air, move microscopic metals through solution, and make plastic. GREAT INFO ON INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD TOXINS THRU EXPERIMENTS
Chemistry by ISBN: 1933834714Publication Date: 2010-01-01Great info on types of bonds, chemical reactions, mixtures and compounds and more
Kitchen Chemistry by ISBN: 1619308843Publication Date: 2020-03-20Bring chemistry to your kitchen with a book that offers hands-on science activities that can be done with ingredients from your pantry and the refrigerator! GOOD INFO ON CHROMATOGRAPHY, ALCOHOL, PH, CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL REACTIONS.
The Science of a Loaf of Bread by ISBN: 1433900432Publication Date: 2009-01-16Uses bread as an example of changing properties. Good information about distillation and physical separation.
Acids and Bases by ISBN: 9798885094221Publication Date: 2023-01-01Why does a baking soda and vinegar volcano erupt? That's what happens when you mix and an acid and a base. But just what are acids and bases? What makes them so different? Learn the answers to these questions and more. It's key chemistry curriculum made approachable for all!
Chemical Reactions by ISBN: 9798885094245Publication Date: 2023-01-01A flickering flame and the smoke curling from a burnt out candle have a lot in common. They are both signs of a chemical reaction. Learn all about the reactions from the smallest atomic structures that cause the changes to the different kinds of products reactions can yield and everything in between. It's key chemistry curriculum made approachable for all.
Official SciOly 2025 Rules
- Potions & Poisons RulesView the rules for Potions & Poisons only in this PDF, which includes all the specific topics, substances, and organisms that will be included in the test. Use your school Google account to access.
- Official Rules for Division B Science Olympiad Use your school Google account to access this document with all the official rules for Division B (middle school) Science Olympiad 2025 for all events.
- Rules Revisions & Rules ClarificationsAny changes to the rules that are necessary but published after the official rules were released are published here. Check your event to see if any rules changes have been made before the competitions. You can also use the "Rules Clarification" form here to ask a clarifying question and a real judge will respond.
Helpful Resources
- Potions & Poisons resource page on the Official Science Olympiad WebsiteDescriptions, practice tests, and more from the official Science Olympiad national site.
- POTIONS & POISONS WIKI on SciOly WikiContains some helpful tips to help understand the Potions and Poisons event.
- Potions & Poisons Kit documentsWe purchased kits for the 2025 Potions & Poisons Science Olympiad Event. This document contains a list of everything in the kit, plus guides on how to study for it, how to set up binder notes, three experiments with answer keys, and much more helpful resources. A MUST READ!
- Chromatography Packet from kitThis is another packet that came with the kit, about Chromatography and how it can be tested with the items in the kit.
Videos
Possible Toxins / Poisons in our Home
