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The Periodic Table Of Elements Is Among The Most Recognizable Image In Science. It Lies At The Core Of Chemistry And Embodies The Most Fundamental Principles Of Science. In This New Edition, Eric Scerri Offers Readers A Complete And Updated History And Philosophy Of The Periodic Table. Written In A Lively Style To Appeal To Experts And Interested Lay-persons Alike, The Periodic Table: Its Story And Its Significance Begins With An Overview Of The Importance Of The Periodic Table And The Manner In Which The Term Element Has Been Interpreted By Chemists And Philosophers Across Time. The Book Traces The Evolution And Development Of The Periodic Table From Its Early Beginnings With The Work Of The Precursors Like De Chancourtois, Newlands And Meyer To Mendeleev's 1869 First Published Table And Beyond. Several Chapters Are Devoted To Developments In 20th Century Physics, Especially Quantum Mechanics And And The Extent To Which They Explain The Periodic Table In A More Fundamental Way. Other Chapters Examine The Formation Of The Elements, Nuclear Structure, The Discovery Of The Last Seven Infra-uranium Elements, And The Synthesis Of Trans-uranium Elements. Finally, The Book Considers The Many Different Ways Of Representing The Periodic System And The Quest For An Optimal Arrangement.
This book investigates the historical development, philosophical underpinnings, and scientific significance of the periodic table of elements. Eric Scerri, a noted historian and philosopher of chemistry, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to examine how the concept of an element has evolved from ancient philosophical inquiry to modern quantum mechanical explanations. The work provides a rigorous framework for understanding the periodic system not merely as a static chart, but as a dynamic entity shaped by both experimental discovery and theoretical physics.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this work as a comprehensive resource for understanding the conceptual foundations of chemistry. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which effectively bridges the gap between historical narrative and technical scientific theory.
Page Count:
416
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190914378
ISBN-13:
9780190914370
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