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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.]
|