Chemical Engineering Professor Vilas Pol (right) receives the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS certificate for his new record from Adjudicator Michael Empric (left). Photo: Purdue University/Vincent Walter.

Davidson School of Chemical Engineering Professor Vilas Pol set a new Guinness World Records title for "the fastest time to arrange all elements of the modern period table" on Wednesday, August 15.

Cheered by a crowd of more than 200 onlookers in Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering’s Henson Atrium, Pol correctly arranged the 118 individual elements in 8 minutes and 36 seconds.

Professor David Corti led Chemical Engineering’s judging for the Guinness World Records program efforts. Corti was responsible as a local Adjudicator for confirming that Pol had correctly assembled the period table elements, which were written individually on 2” ceramic tiles. Guinness World Records official adjudicator Michael Empric verified the record.

Dr. Vilas Pol (right) raises his hands as he completes arranging all elements of the modern periodic table while GWR Adjudicator Michael Empric (left) marks the time. Photo: Purdue University/Vincent Walter.

With this Guinness World Records title, Pol wishes to inspire current chemistry and chemical engineering students as well as new generation to know the periodic table by heart as it’s a foundation of new scientific discoveries. For example - human body has approximately 30 elements from the periodic table while the current smart phone possesses 75 elements (out of 118 elements) to receive all the required magnetic, optical and conducting properties and eventually act smarter than us.  

Pol’s Guinness World Records title was one of two set on Purdue’s campus on Wednesday. As part of Boiler Gold Rush activities, 5,527 students broke the record title for most train whistles blowing at the same time.

Read more about the two Guinness World Records at: https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q3/purdue-succeeds-on-two-guinness-world-record-attempts.html