Periodic table

Significant events in the development of the Periodic Table

By chloeeeeee

  • Antoine Lavoisier

    In 1778, Antoine Lavoisier wrote the first extensive list of elements containing 33 elements & distinguished between metals and non-metals

  • Johann Doberiner

    In 1828, Johann Dobereiner developed groups of 3 elements with similar properties

  • French geologist Alexandre-Emile Béguyer de Chancourtois created the Tulluric Screw

    In 1862, French geologist Alexandre-Emile Béguyer de Chancourtois listed the elements on paper tape and wound them, spiral like, around a cylinder. Certain ‘threes’ of elements with similar properties came together down the cylinder. He called his model the ‘telluric screw’.

  • English Chemist John Newlands proposed his "law of octaves"

    In 1864, English chemist John Newlands noticed that, if the elements were arranged in order of atomic weight, there was a periodic similarity every 8 elements. He proposed his ‘law of octaves’ on this.

  • Lothan Meyer compiled a periodic table of 56 elements

    In 1869, Lothar Meyer complied a periodic table of 56 elements based on a regular repeating pattern of physical properties such as molar volume. Once again, the elements were arranged in order of increasing atomic weights.

  • Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev produced a periodic table based on atomic weights

    Also in 1869, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev produced a periodic table based on atomic weights but arranged ‘periodically’. Elements with similar properties appeared under each other. Gaps were left for yet to be discovered elements.

  • William Ramsay discoverd noble gases

    In 1894, William Ramsay discovered the noble gases and realised that they represented a new group in the periodic table.

  • Henry Moseley determined the atomic number of the known elements

    In 1914, Henry Moseley determined the atomic number of each of the known elements. He realised that, if the elements were arranged in order of increasing atomic number rather than atomic weight, they gave a better fit within the ‘periodic table’.

  • Glenn Seaborg artificially produced heavy mass elements

    In 1940, Glenn Seaborg artificially produced heavy mass elements such as neptunium. These new elements were part of a new block of the periodic table called ‘actinides’.