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Single Idea 17416

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

Full Idea

The prevailing reductionist climate implies that quantum mechanics inevitably provides a more fundamental explanation for the periodic system.

Gist of Idea

Orthodoxy says the periodic table is explained by quantum mechanics

Source

Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], 08 'Concl')

Book Ref

Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.224

A Reaction

Scerri has argued that chemists did much better than physicists in working out how the outer electron shells of atoms worked, by induction from data, rather than inference from basic principles.

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.]