Development Of The Periodic Table

Periodic table is the most influential tool in the world of science that consists of an element symbol for all the elements discovered to date. We can also call it a table that centralizes almost everything one learns in the subject of chemistry. It is why every educational institute or research laboratory wall has a periodic table chart hanging on them. But, now the question is- Was the Periodic table always like this?

No, the reality is that using a periodic table to classify the elements with an element symbol was started around 200 years ago. All these years, this particular table has been created, altered, and improved numerous times with the advancement of science and discoveries of new elements. 

The development history of the Periodic table

1789

One of the first attempts to classify elements was by Antoine Lavoisier in 1789. His classification was based on the properties of the elements. 

1817

The next significant attempt was the triad classification or arrangement system introduced by Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner. The triads system said that according to their atomic weights, elements could be arranged into triads, which are a set of three elements. 

1862

Alexandre- Émile- Béguyer de Chancourtois, who was a French geologist, introduced a unique way of classifying the elements with an element symbol. He said that a periodic table could be made by plotting atomic weights on a cylinder such that the similar elements were positioned below one another. This cylinder’s circumference was equal to the oxygen’s atomic weight. 

1864

After observing that if an element symbol of all the elements is placed according to their atomic weights, among every seven elements, a periodic similarity could be observed, John Newlands, who was an English Chemist, introduced the Law of Octaves, which was similar to the music octaves. 

1868

Similar in numerous ways to the Periodic table proposed in 1869 by Mendeleev, in 1868, Lothar Meyer prepared his table consisting of 56 elements. However, he did not publish it until late 1870. His classification was a graph arranging elements by relating atomic volume with atomic number. 

1869

In 1869, a periodic table periodically arranging an element symbol of all the elements based on the atomic weights was published by Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian Chemist. This Periodic table puts the elements that share similar properties below one another. It also had some gaps left to position the elements that would be discovered later. Both Meyer and Mendeleev were recognized for their contributions and honored with the Davy Medal by The Royal Society Of London in 1882. However, as the elements predicted by Mendeleev for which he left gaps in his periodic table were discovered later, his table was appreciated and accepted universally. 

1894

Until 1894, noble gasses were not known to the world. Then, in 1894, noble gasses were discovered by William Ramsay, and he also proposed that these gasses in the Periodic table must form a separate group. 

1913

For each known element, Henry Moseley gave a unique atomic number in 1913. Also, he then represented his theory that the elements in the Periodic table must be placed according to their atomic number in an increasing pattern rather than their atomic weights. Hence, he sorted out the defects of the periodic table given by Mendeleev in 1869 and introduced the Modern Periodic Table.

Modern Periodic table properties

The Periodic table properties of the Modern Periodic table are as follows: 

• An element symbol of all the symbols in the Modern Periodic table is arranged according to increasing atomic number instead of the atomic weight. 
• The Modern Periodic table arranges 118 elements into 18 groups and 7 periods. 
• The inert or the noble gasses are placed in the last group of this table, i.e., the Group 18. 

Conclusion

The periodic table is a table that arranges an element symbol or all the elements discovered into a single table. It is one of the most important documents to understand the world of science and especially the subject of Chemistry. The table follows numerous trends, and knowing these trends makes it easier for one to remember the elements and their properties. To be precise, it provides us with a systematic way to understand the different elements by learning the similarities shared among them. 

The significance of the Periodic table is more than enough to understand and justify why numerous scientists have strived to develop and constantly improve it with advancing science. All these improvements and developments led to the present Periodic table that is universally accepted- The Modern Periodic Table.