Mendeleev and the Periodic Table
Read the article "A Puzzle With Many Pieces: Development of the Periodic Table." By Dmitrii Ivanovich Mendeleev.
1. When were the early versions of the periodic table created?
2. Why hadn't scientists recognized a pattern in the chemical and physical properties of the chemical elements before that time?
3. What was the purpose of the Karlsruhe conference?
4. Note that nearly a half-century passed before Avogadro's contribution was identified as a possible solution to the problem of atomic weight standardization. How does this demonstrate that (a) creative insight is crucial to science, and (b) that previous science ideas become useful in unanticipated ways?
5. Why did Mendeleev first decide to try to find a pattern in the chemical elements?
6. Many people enjoy solving puzzles, yet think they would not enjoy a science career. Mendeleev is trying all sorts of ideas to make sense of the data. How is what Mendeleev doing like solving a puzzle? How does his work illustrate that doing science requires creativity and imagination?
7. What is the Law of Periodicity?
8. Mendeleev's "Law of Periodicity" was met with skepticism. Why? What was Mendeleev's response?
9. How did Mendeleev use his periodic table to make predictions?
10. Were his predictions ever confirmed? If so, how and when?
11. Compare and contrast Scientific Laws with Scientific Theories.
12. What was Mendeleev's opinion on Ramsay's discovery of the new element Argon? Why?
13. What was Mendeleev's opinion on radioactivity and subatomic particles? Why?
14. How was Mendeleev's Periodic Law modified?