Open AccessThe Gestation and Growth of the Periodic Table
Author(s) -
David A. Johnson,
Alan F. Williams
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2019.144
Subject(s) - table (database) , periodic table , periodic system , point (geometry) , actinide , chemistry , theoretical physics , computer science , mathematics , physics , inorganic chemistry , mathematical analysis , geometry , organic chemistry , data mining
The development of ideas of chemical periodicity from Lavoisier to Mendeleyev's first periodic table of 1869 is surveyed. Although his first periodic table contained a number of errors and weaknesses, his remarkable predictions of the properties of several then unknown elements, together with his capacity to adapt the table to new discoveries, slowly led to its general acceptance. The theory of atomic structure slowly developed to a point where it could rationalise the structure of the table which had, however, been established solely on the basis of experimental observations. Chemistry has played the central role, up to and including the final modification of Seaborg to introduce the actinides – although this had been foreseen by Alfred Werner! Finally we discuss the many physical forms in which the table has been presented.