How Has the Periodic Table Changed Over its 150 Year History?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the historical evolution of the Periodic Table, particularly focusing on its 150-year anniversary. Participants explore the development of the table, key figures involved, and its significance in the fields of chemistry, physics, and biology.

Discussion Character

  • Historical
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the difficulty in pinpointing an exact birthday for the Periodic Table, suggesting it evolved alongside advancements in chemistry.
  • Another participant references Mendeleev's first version published on March 1, 1869, and mentions Moseley's contributions in organizing elements by atomic number instead of atomic weight.
  • A third post highlights the significance of the Periodic Table as a tool for understanding matter and its properties, emphasizing its role in various scientific fields.
  • Participants celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table, acknowledging Mendeleev's contributions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of Mendeleev's work and the significance of the Periodic Table, but there is no consensus on a definitive date for its "birthday" due to its evolving nature.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying interpretations of the historical timeline of the Periodic Table and its development, with references to different contributors and their methodologies.

BillTre
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
2,765
Reaction score
12,107
The Periodic Table is 150 years old sometime this year (I could not find its exact birthday).
Good job Mendeleev!
Here is a Science magazine news info graphic on how it has changed over time (before and after Mendeleev).
The graphic came out a while ago, but was not working then. Now it does.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Buzz Bloom, Demystifier, Christopher Nelson and 7 others
Chemistry news on Phys.org
I think its because the periodic table evolved with our understanding of Chemistry and so there is no definitive date:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_periodic_table

The article shows the many attempts at making a periodic table until we reach Mendeleev who published his first version on March 1, 1869. Later Moseley provided a better scheme of sorting the elements via atomic number and not atomic weight as Mendeleev had done.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Buzz Bloom, BillTre and Christopher Nelson
https://www.iypt2019.org/

Quote from
https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/iypt2019

International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements 2019
cover_iypt2019_shutterstock_chemical_elements.jpg

A yearlong initiative to raise awareness of chemistry and its applications for sustainable development.

The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is one of the most significant achievements in science, capturing the essence not only of chemistry, but also of physics and biology. It is a unique tool, enabling scientist to predict the appearance and properties of matter on the Earth and in the rest of the Universe. The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is more than just a guide or catalogue of the entire known atoms in the universe; it is essentially a window on the universe, helping to expand our understanding of the world around us. The year 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of its creation by Russian scientist Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev.

The Year was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/72/228) and approved by UNESCO's General Conference (39C/ decision 60).
 

Attachments

  • cover_iypt2019_shutterstock_chemical_elements.jpg
    cover_iypt2019_shutterstock_chemical_elements.jpg
    29.2 KB · Views: 1,095
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Buzz Bloom and BillTre
jedishrfu said:
Mendeleev who published his first version on March 1, 1869

Happy 150th birthday to the Periodic Table!
 

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
6K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
4K