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Full Idea
In the 19th century abstract elements were believed to be permanent and responsible for observed properties in compounds, but (departing from Aristotle) they were also 'material ingredients', thus linking the metaphysical and material realm.
Gist of Idea
19th C views said elements survived abstractly in compounds, but also as 'material ingredients'
Source
Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], 04 'Nature')
Book Ref
Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.114
A Reaction
I'm not sure I can make sense of this gulf between the metaphysical and the material realm, so this was an account heading for disaster.
Related Idea
Idea 17392 How can poisonous elements survive in the nutritious compound they compose? [Scerri]
| 17399 | Elements don't survive in compounds, but the 'substance' of the element does [Mendeleev] |
| 17559 | Is one atom a piece of gold, or is a sizable group of atoms required? [Inwagen] |
| 7036 | The real natural properties are sparse, but there are many complex properties [Heil] |
| 17476 | Elements survive chemical change, and are tracked to explain direction and properties [Hendry] |
| 17477 | Defining elements by atomic number allowed atoms of an element to have different masses [Hendry] |
| 17398 | 19th C views said elements survived abstractly in compounds, but also as 'material ingredients' [Scerri] |
| 17418 | It is now thought that all the elements have literally evolved from hydrogen [Scerri] |
| 21200 | An 'element' is what cannot be decomposed by chemistry [Martin,BR] |
| 17467 | Isotopes (such as those of hydrogen) can vary in their rates of chemical reaction [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry] |