Rithika found the periodic table intriguing, leading her to memorise the tabular arrangement. Photos: Chintamani Narayanan
Rithika Vallinacha Ramanathan, nine, has earned a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the Fastest Time To Arrange Periodic Table By A Child, clocking an impressive three minutes and 31 seconds. The young girl from Bukit Baru, Melaka, completed the task on July 18 at MBR's office in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
"I feel very relieved that I have managed to complete the feat and gained entry into MBR. I feel happy and proud of my achievement," said Rithika during a phone interview from Melaka recently.
The periodic table is a fundamental tool in chemistry as it organises all known chemical elements based on their atomic number, electron configuration and chemical properties.
Rithika found the periodic table intriguing, leading her to memorise the tabular arrangement.
"It started with a puzzle on the periodic table that I was introduced to by a friend. I was interested to know more about the elements. A few days later, my parents bought a few books on the periodic table. From then on, my interest began," said the Year Three student at a private school in Melaka.
Rithika has a good memory and recall ability, like a photographic memory, says Chintamani (right).
Within just four months, armed with sheer determination and an insatiable curiosity, she embarked on a journey to remember the entire periodic table. Rithika managed to memorise the table despite not having any knowledge in chemistry.
Memorising the elements, names, symbols and their order may seem daunting, but Rithika's abilities eased the process, said her mother Chintamani Narayanan, 36.
"She has a good memory and recall ability, like a photographic memory. The memorising did not burden her much compared to the orderly arrangement of the elements."Rithika's progress from a starting time of 12 minutes to the record-breaking three minutes and 31 seconds is a testament to her dedication and perseverance.
"My husband and I helped her create a story for the arrangement of elements and divided the periodic table into segments for her to practise little by little. Within two months, she achieved a timing below the five-minute benchmark."
Rithika (centre) pictured with her parents, Dr Ramanathan Ravi and Chintamani Narayanan, and her brother, Ridhesh Thaneermalaiyan Ramanathan.Daily practice played a crucial role in honing her skills, added Chintamani, who works as a tutor.
"She practised thrice a day, dedicating about an hour in total each day. She was very focused. She wanted to quit in the middle when it was very taxing and exhausting to time below five minutes, but the next day, she decided to continue with fresh waves of diligence and discipline," said the mother of two.
Rithika's passion for science remains unwavering and she aspires to become a dentist like her father.
Her feat serves as an inspiration to many, proving that dedication, passion and curiosity can propel young minds to achieve remarkable accomplishments.
