The junior high lunch period was disturbed on Oct. 29 by the appearance of a goggle-clad chemistry class. The eager students, under the guidance of chemistry teacher, Rod Atchley, experimented with three potentially explosive elements of the periodic table.

The goal was to observe how similar elements would respond when they came in contact with water.

The class began with the least reactive element: lithium. When placed in water, it self-propelled itself in water. The next test subject was sodium. When placed in water, this element smoked and moved randomly around the bowl.

The last element, potassium, however, generated enough heat to cause a burst of pink flame. The flame burned on top of the water for an average of 10 seconds.

?It was cool because I didn?t think metals and liquids could spontaneously catch fire when they were put together,? Kyle Gentz, ?05, said. ?It was crazy awesome!?

Cries of surprise and a chorus? of ?Oh yeah, baby!? echoed outside Building 6 as many seventh grade students gawked at what was happening hidden behind the forest of white lab smocks.