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Single Idea 17466

[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / F. Chemistry / 3. Periodic Table ]

Full Idea

In addition to providing the systematization of the elements used in modern chemistry, Mendeleev also gave an account of the nature of the elements which informs contemporary philosophical understanding.

Gist of Idea

Mendeleev systematised the elements, and also gave an account of their nature

Source

Weisberg/Needham/Hendry (Philosophy of Chemistry [2011], 1.3)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.8


The 11 ideas from 'Philosophy of Chemistry'

Lavoisier's elements included four types of earth [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Mendeleev systematised the elements, and also gave an account of their nature [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Isotopes (such as those of hydrogen) can vary in their rates of chemical reaction [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Over 100,000,000 compounds have been discovered or synthesised [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
'H2O' just gives the element proportions, not the microstructure [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Water molecules dissociate, and form large polymers, explaining its properties [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Using mechanisms as explanatory schemes began in chemistry [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Thick mechanisms map whole reactions, and thin mechanism chart the steps [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
It is unlikely that chemistry will ever be reduced to physics [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
Quantum theory won't tell us which structure a set of atoms will form [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]
For temperature to be mean kinetic energy, a state of equilibrium is also required [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]