Dmitri Mendeleev vs. Lothar Meyer who is the father of the periodic table - Essay Example

Dmitri Mendeleev vs. Lothar Meyer – Who is the father of the periodic table? The periodic table is a complete displayof chemical elements that are categorically arranged in terms of atomic number, chemical properties and electron configuration (Levi 3). According to historical studies, Dmitri Mendeleev is regarded as the father of the periodic table. However, various scientists have significantly contributed vital information with regard to the present form of the periodic table. There has been continued disagreement concerning who should receive the credits as the father of the periodic table between Lothar Meyer and Dmitri Mendeleev.

This article will discuss the individual who deserves the credentials as the father of the periodic table between Dmitri Mendeleev and Lothar Meyer. Dmitri Mendeleev was a Russian professor in the Chemistry department of various institutions. According to several sources, he is credited as the creator of the first version of the period table in 1869 (Scerri 9). He also predicted some of the properties that were yet to be discovered by using the first version of the periodic table which he had created.

During this era, Mendeleev was also studying the capillarity of liquids and the functioning of the stethoscope. The first version of the periodic table comprised of 56 elements (Levi 5). In his predictions, Mendeleev made it clear that the eight elements he predicted would have the prefixes dvi, tri and eka in their naming. On the other hand, Julius Lothar Meyer was a German chemist who published an expanded version of the periodic table in 1870. His table consisted of 44 elements, which were arranged in terms of their valency.

He is also honored for his contribution in the periodic classification of elements. It is quite clear that Meyer was also doubtful about the periodic table published by Mendeleev just like several other scientists (Gordin 34). The main contribution of Meyer included the concept, which asserts that the carbon atoms found in benzene are arranged in the form of a ring. The table presented by Meyer was virtually identical to the table created by Mendeleev. After constructing the table, Meyer gave it to a colleague for proper evaluation.

He also criticized Mendeleev since; he changed some of the atomic weights of the existing elements.Most individuals claim that both Mendeleev and Meyer are co- creators of the period table. However, most individuals virtually agree that Mendeleev made an accurate prediction compared to Meyer. In addition, he also predicted more elements such as gallium and germanium, which were discovered in 1875 and 1886 respectively (Scerri 17). After Mendeleev’s periodic table was published, it became available to the scientific community all over the world.

Most of his predictions were correct because most of the elements were discovered at a later date. Mendeleev and Meyer worked independently to construct the periodic table, hence; both of them are highly acknowledged for the development of the modern periodic table. Meyer had compiled a duplicate of the periodic table using molar volume. According to the global view, it is quite evident that Mendeleev is the sole originator of the periodic table because he created an expanded periodic table.

Most of the elements contained in the table by Meyer were similar to those documented by Mendeleev (Levi 25). Hence, Mendeleev is the father of the periodic table. Works CitedGordin, Michael. A Well-Ordered Thing: Dmitri Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table. New York: Basic Books, 2004. Print.Levi, Primo. The Periodic Table. New York: Everymans Library, 1996. Print. Scerri, Eric. The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. Print.