WEST LAFAYETTE — Chemistry class, for most, hearkens back to images of test tubes, glass beakers and bubbling concoctions. It does not, however — at least not unless accompanied by an audible sigh — immediately draw to mind the periodic table of elements.

That table is made up of the chemicals that fill the tubes and beakers, and that occasionally bubble over in experiments gone wrong. They also are the chemical elements that make up what we eat, drink, and breathe every day.

You may recall some of the easy ones — oxygen, hydrogen, calcium, and carbon. But exactly how many of the 118 elements can you remember? What about dysprosium? Meitnerium? Oganesson?

Vilas Pol recalls them all. And in record-breaking fashion.

Pol, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Purdue University, recently arranged all 118 elements in order in just 8 minutes and 36.25 seconds.

He did so under the watchful eye of a representative from Guinness World Records — part of Pol’s effort to not only set a record but to draw Purdue students’ attention to the fundamental role of chemistry in society.

On his third attempt of the day, more than 200 supporters watched as Pol placed the last, homemade mosaic tile into place, perfectly completing the periodic table of elements and setting the baseline record for this feat.

“All of the [chemical engineering] school was rooting for him, and of course, Purdue as a whole was behind him and the world record attempt,” said Jennifer Merzdorf, the communications director for Purdue’s School of Chemical Engineering. “It created a buzz on campus that day and a lot of positive energy.”

Source: IndyStar