Challenges for the Periodic Systems of Elements: Chemical, Historical and Mathematical Perspectives

Restrepo, Guillermo

doi:10.1002/chem.201902802

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 60 publications

(116 reference statements)

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“…Subtle shell structure effects cause irregularities and anomalies in the chemical and physical behaviour of the elements within a specific group. Fuzzy concepts like chemical similarity 265 often lead to unnecessary disputes concerning the PTE. The ambiguity of clearly assigning a specific element into the right place of the PTE, as for the lanthanides and actinides, shows the limitation of such concepts or approximations [266][267][268][269] , but in our opinion should not be over-interpreted as it is sometimes done.…”

Section: [H1] Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The periodic table and the physics that drives it

2020

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Section: [H1] Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The periodic table and the physics that drives it

2020

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“…in ferrous metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Pd), lanthanides, and actinides. For more detail see Restrepo (2019a and2019b). There are many properties one can use to establish relationships between elements and therefore there can be thousands of different PTE.…”

Section: Jensenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The value of vague ideas in the development of the periodic system of chemical elements

Vogt

2021

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The exploration of chemical periodicity over the past 250 years led to the development of the Periodic System of Elements and demonstrates the value of vague ideas that ignored early scientific anomalies and instead allowed for extended periods of normal science where new methodologies and concepts are developed. The basic chemical element provides this exploration with direction and explanation and has shown to be a central and historically adaptable concept for a theory of matter far from the reductionist frontier. This is explored in the histories of Prout's hypothesis, Döbereiner Triads, element inversions necessary when ordering chemical elements by atomic weights, and van den Broeck's ad-hoc proposal to switch to nuclear charges instead. The development of more accurate methods to determine atomic weights, Rayleigh and Ramsey's gas separation and analytical techniques, Moseley's x-ray spectroscopy to identify chemical elements, and more recent accelerator-based cold fusion methods to create new elements at the end of the Periodic Table point to the importance of methodological development complementing conceptual advances. I propose to frame the crossover from physics to chemistry not as a loss of accuracy and precision but as an increased application of vague concepts such as similarity which permit classification. This approach provides epistemic flexibility to adapt to scientific anomalies and the continued growth of chemical compound space and rejects the Procrustean philosophy of reductionist physics. Furthermore, it establishes chemistry with its explanatory and operational autonomy epitomized by the periodic system of elements as a gateway to other experimental sciences.

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“…Anhand der Verbindungen, die bereits zu Meyers und Mendelejews Zeiten bekannt waren, entstand ein System, das geprägt war von Ähnlichkeits-und Ordnungsbeziehungen. 2,3) Die auffallenden Stöchiometrien der Halogenide, Hydroxide, Sulfate, Arsenate, Hydride und anderer Verbindungen der Alkalimetalle führte zur Vorstellung, dass diese einander ähneln. Daraus folgt letztlich das Konzept der Valenz.…”

Section: Verbindungen Prägen Das Wissen üBer Elementeunclassified