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Single Idea 17408

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

Full Idea

Some chemists even suggested that the periodic table would have to be abandoned in favor of a classification system that included a separate place for every single isotope.

Gist of Idea

Some suggested basing the new periodic table on isotopes, not elements

Source

Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], 06 'Intro')

Book Ref

Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.160

A Reaction

The extreme case is tin, which has 21 isotopes, so is tin a fundamental, or is each of the isotopes a fundamental? Does there have to be a right answer to that? All tin isotopes basically react in the same way, so we stick with the elements table.

The 17 ideas with the same theme [arrangement of modern elements in a pattern]:

17400 Mendeleev focused on abstract elements, not simple substances, so he got to their essence [Mendeleev, by Scerri]
17401 Mendeleev had a view of elements which allowed him to overlook some conflicting observations [Mendeleev]
12450 The periodic table not only defines the elements, but also excludes other possible elements [Azzouni]
17480 Generally it is nuclear charge (not nuclear mass) which determines behaviour [Hendry]
17395 Elements were ordered by equivalent weight; later by atomic weight; finally by atomic number [Scerri]
17410 Moseley showed the elements progress in units, and thereby clearly identified the gaps [Scerri]
17406 Moseley, using X-rays, showed that atomic number ordered better than atomic weight [Scerri]
17408 Some suggested basing the new periodic table on isotopes, not elements [Scerri]
17412 Elements are placed in the table by the number of positive charges - the atomic number [Scerri]
17414 Pauli explained the electron shells, but not the lengths of the periods in the table [Scerri]
17413 Elements in the table are grouped by having the same number of outer-shell electrons [Scerri]
17416 Orthodoxy says the periodic table is explained by quantum mechanics [Scerri]
17417 To explain the table, quantum mechanics still needs to explain order of shell filling [Scerri]
17419 Since 99.96% of the universe is hydrogen and helium, the periodic table hardly matters [Scerri]
17422 The best classification needs the deepest and most general principles of the atoms [Scerri]
17466 Mendeleev systematised the elements, and also gave an account of their nature [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
17603 Chemistry just needs the periodic table, and protons, electrons and neutrinos [New Sci.]