Mendeleyev,
Dmitry Ivanovich (1834-1907), Russian chemist, best known for his development
of the periodic law of the properties of the chemical elements. This law
states that elements show a periodicity (regular pattern) of properties
when they are arranged according to atomic weight. Mendeleyev was born
in Tobolsk, Siberia. He studied chemistry at the University of Saint Petersburg,
and in 1859 he was sent to study at the University of Heidelberg. There
he met the Italian chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro, whose views on atomic
weight (see Atom and Atomic Theory) influenced his thinking. Mendeleyev
returned to Saint Petersburg and became professor of chemistry at the Technical
Institute in 1863. He became professor of general chemistry at the University
of Saint Petersburg in 1866. Mendeleyev was a renowned teacher, and, because
no good textbook in chemistry was available, he wrote the two-volume Principles
of Chemistry (1868-1870), which became a classic. During the writing of
this book, Mendeleyev tried to classify the elements according to their
chemical properties. In 1869 he published his first version of what became
known as the periodic table, in which he demonstrated the periodic law.
In 1871 he published an improved version of the periodic table, in which
he left gaps for elements that were not yet known. His chart and theories
gained increased acceptance when three predicted elements-gallium, germanium,
and scandium-were subsequently discovered. Mendeleyev's investigations
also included the study of the chemical theory of solution, the thermal
expansion of liquids, and the nature of petroleum. In 1887 he undertook
a solo balloon flight to study a solar eclipse. In 1890 he resigned from
the university as a consequence of his progressive political views and
his advocacy of social reforms. In 1893 he became director of the Bureau
of Weights and Measures in Saint Petersburg and held this position until
his death.
Mendeleyev,
Dmitry Ivanovich (1834-1907), Russian chemist, best known for his development
of the periodic law of the properties of the chemical elements. This law
states that elements show a periodicity (regular pattern) of properties
when they are arranged according to atomic weight. Mendeleyev was born
in Tobolsk, Siberia. He studied chemistry at the University of Saint Petersburg,
and in 1859 he was sent to study at the University of Heidelberg. There
he met the Italian chemist Stanislao Cannizzaro, whose views on atomic
weight (see Atom and Atomic Theory) influenced his thinking. Mendeleyev
returned to Saint Petersburg and became professor of chemistry at the Technical
Institute in 1863. He became professor of general chemistry at the University
of Saint Petersburg in 1866. Mendeleyev was a renowned teacher, and, because
no good textbook in chemistry was available, he wrote the two-volume Principles
of Chemistry (1868-1870), which became a classic. During the writing of
this book, Mendeleyev tried to classify the elements according to their
chemical properties. In 1869 he published his first version of what became
known as the periodic table, in which he demonstrated the periodic law.
In 1871 he published an improved version of the periodic table, in which
he left gaps for elements that were not yet known. His chart and theories
gained increased acceptance when three predicted elements-gallium, germanium,
and scandium-were subsequently discovered. Mendeleyev's investigations
also included the study of the chemical theory of solution, the thermal
expansion of liquids, and the nature of petroleum. In 1887 he undertook
a solo balloon flight to study a solar eclipse. In 1890 he resigned from
the university as a consequence of his progressive political views and
his advocacy of social reforms. In 1893 he became director of the Bureau
of Weights and Measures in Saint Petersburg and held this position until
his death.
