Dmitri Mendeleev

Dmitri Mendeleev – The Father of the Periodic Table

Introduction

Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834–1907) was a Russian chemist and inventor, best known for creating the first widely recognized version of the Periodic Table of Elements. His work laid the foundation for modern chemistry and revolutionized how scientists understand the properties and relationships of chemical elements.

Early Life and Education

Dmitri Mendeleev was born on February 8, 1834, in Tobolsk, Siberia, Russia. He was the youngest of 14 to 17 siblings (sources vary). After the early death of his father and a fire that destroyed the family’s glass factory, Mendeleev’s mother took him to St. Petersburg to pursue his education.

He studied at the Main Pedagogical Institute and later continued his education and research in Germany.

Contribution to Chemistry

Development of the Periodic Table

In 1869, Mendeleev published his first version of the Periodic Table. Unlike previous attempts, Mendeleev:

• Arranged elements in order of **increasing atomic mass**
• Grouped elements with **similar properties** into vertical columns
• **Left gaps** for undiscovered elements and even predicted their properties

Some of the elements he predicted, such as **gallium (Ga)**, **scandium (Sc)**, and **germanium (Ge)**, were later discovered and confirmed the accuracy of his table.

Periodic Law

Mendeleev's formulation:

"The properties of the elements are a periodic function of their atomic weights."

This later evolved into the modern version:

"The properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers."

Other Scientific Work

While best known for the Periodic Table, Mendeleev also:

• Worked on the theory of solutions
• Studied the nature of petroleum and advocated for its industrial use
• Developed an early version of the metric system in Russia
• Wrote a widely used chemistry textbook titled Principles of Chemistry

Awards and Recognition

• Member of several international academies
• Numerous medals and honors in his lifetime
• In 1955, the element Mendelevium (Md) with atomic number 101 was named in his honor

Legacy

Mendeleev's scientific foresight and his ability to predict the existence and properties of unknown elements marked a turning point in the field of chemistry. He is remembered as one of the greatest chemists of all time.

Death

Dmitri Mendeleev passed away on February 2, 1907, in St. Petersburg, Russia.

See Also

• Periodic Table of Elements – A Complete Guide
• Chemical Elements – A Complete Guide
• Henry Moseley

References and Further Reading

• IUPAC – International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
• Biography resources from Britannica and Royal Society of Chemistry
• Mendeleev, D. Principles of Chemistry (Textbook)

Disclaimer

This article is intended for academic and educational purposes only. All historical and scientific facts have been compiled from verified public sources and should be used as a supplement to standard chemistry education and historical studies.