Single Idea 17395

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / F. Chemistry / 3. Periodic Table]

Full Idea

Historically, the ordering of elements across periods was determined by equivalent weight, then later by atomic weight, and eventually by atomic number.

Gist of Idea

Elements were ordered by equivalent weight; later by atomic weight; finally by atomic number

Source

Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], 01 'React')

Book Reference

Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.19


A Reaction

So they used to be ordered by quantities (measured by real numbers), but eventually were ordered by unit items (counted by natural numbers). There need to be distinct protons (unified) to be counted.