PERIODIC CLASSIFICATION OF ELEMENTS

Metals

non-metals
Elements
Metalloides

Inert gases
Matter
Homogenous
Mixture
Heterogenou
s
Compounds

Dobereiners Triads
In 1817, Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner, a German
chemist.
Identified some groups having three elements each
called triads.
In triads when elements are arranged in order of
increasing atomic masses; the atomic mass of the
middle element was roughly the average of the
atomic masses of the other two elements.
Limitation:
Only three triads were identified at that time

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Newlands Law of Octaves
In 1866, John Newland an English scientist,
arranged the then known elements in the
order of increasing atomic masses.
He started with element Hydrogen (A=1) to
Thorium (A=56).
He found that every eighth element had
properties similar to that of the first.
He compared this to the octaves found in
music. Therefore, he called it the Law of
Octaves.
Limitations:
Law of Octave was applicable only up to Calcium.
It was assumed by Newlands that only 56 elements existed in
nature and no more elements would be discovered in the
future.

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 Adjusted two elements in the same slot, but also put some
unlike elements under the same note.
Law of Octaves worked well with lighter elements only.

Mendeleevs Periodic Table

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev, a Russian
chemist.
Arranged 63 elements
Elements were arranged on the basis
of
Atomic masses
Their physical and chemical
properties
The formulae of Hydrides and Oxides
formed by an element were treated as the basic properties for
classification.
Group I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Oxides R2O RO R2O3 RO2 R2O5 RO3 R2O7 RO4
Hydride RH RH2 RH3 RH4 RH3 RH2 RH

He observed there occurs a periodic recurrence elements with

similar physical and chemical properties.
The properties of elements are the periodic function of their
atomic masses.
Periodic table contains 8 vertical columns called groups and 6
horizontal rows called periods.

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 Achievements of Mendeleevs Periodic Table

Placed slightly greater atomic mass before an element with

slightly lower atomic mass. Example; cobalt (A= 58.9) before
nickel ( A=58.7).
Left some gaps in his Periodic Table for
Eka boron for scandium
Eka- aluminium for gallium
Eka- silicon for germanium

Inert gases could be placed in a new group without disturbing the

existing order.
Limitations
Could not assign a correct position to Hydrogen (H form
compound like Alkali metals and exist in Diatomic form).
Compounds of H Compounds of Na
HCl NaCl
H2O Na2O
H2S Na2S

Isotopes of all elements posed a challenge to Mendeleevs
Periodic Law.
Atomic masses do not increase in a regular manner going
from one element to the next.

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The Modern Periodic Table

In1913, Henry Moseley showed that

Properties of elements are a periodic
function of their atomic number.

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