Chemical Reaction: Jealous high school girl throws acid in classmate's face, say Brooklyn cops

(CBS) A Brooklyn high school student splashed acid in another girl's face during chemistry class, in an apparent jealous fit over a mutual male friend, authorities said Thursday.

The suspect, 16-year-old Zhanna Smsarian, was freed on $7,500 bail for the alleged attack Wednesday on 15-year-old classmate Albina Eshimbaeva, in the first-floor lab at Fort Hamilton High School, the New York Daily News reported.

The suspect told a police officer she "was trying to burn Eshimbaeva's eyes out," according to court documents, the newspaper reported.

The pair were said to have been friends before their falling out over a 22-year-old man who had briefly dated Eshimbaeva.

The older man said they went out for a week before breaking up - and then the trouble began, according to the Daily News.

"[Eshimbaeva] was stalking me," said the man. The spurned teen also mistook his friendship with Smsarian as romance, he said, creating further tension.

The man told his woes to Smsarian, who assured him that she would handle things.

"I told her to do what she had to do, but I didn't expect her to throw acid," said the man.

Doctors who treated Eshimbaeva said the teen could have been blinded. Instead, she only suffered skin irritation because the diluted solution contained just 10% acid, sources told the Daily News.

A teacher quickly flushed Eshimbaeva with water. She was rushed to the burn unit at Staten Island University Hospital and was later released.

Smsarian was arraigned for attempted assault and other charges.

"She's never been in any problems before," her lawyer told the judge. "She's an honor roll student with excellent grades."

A spokeswoman said the school has also taken disciplinary action against Smsarian.