Vinny Forte is one of many students in an organic chemistry lecture class that just began at Ohio State University. Dr. Christopher Callam opens the class every year with a demonstration that includes a stunt. He throws a paper wad into the balcony and challenges a student to throw it into a waste paper bin on the stage.
“We are using the ball to help understand acid base chemistry to understand proton donors and proton acceptors, Callam said. “The student can then try to make a basket to earn 100% on the first quiz.”
Not just the student, but the entire class would get 100% on the first quiz if he makes the shot. No pressure.
S/o to Benny for making this shot and getting the entire lecture an automatic 100 on our first ochem quiz pic.twitter.com/nmYJ34DjdM
— rachel brown ✧･ﾟ: * (@yo_rochelle) September 2, 2016
Rachel Brown caught footage of the miracle. What’s even more amazing is that this isn’t the first time it’s happened. It’s the second year in a row!
“The first ten years I did it no one was very close,” Callam said. “The last two years the shots have been epic and have gone in. I just randomly throw the ball up to the balcony and whoever grabs it is the ‘proton acceptor’ or Lewis base and I make the horrible and classic joke that ‘I just made an acid of myself.'”
“When the student made the shot last year no one had a video of it because no one thought it would go in. This year I told them we had to live up to last year making the shot so get your phones out. The student who made it ‘Vinny’ had his named chanted for several minutes after he made it. Not your normal day in Ochem.”
Way to go, Vinny! The entire class is eligible for a score of 100 on the first quiz, but they still have to show up that day to get it. -via Digg
(Image credit: Patrick Tighe)