Here, Eric Scerri looks at the trends in properties of elements that led to the construction of the periodic table, and how the deeper meaning of its structure gradually became apparent with the development of atomic theory and quantum mechanics, so that, as Scerri puts it, one science, physics, arguably came to colonize another, chemistry, although such a view is resisted by chemists. Scerri shows that quantum mechanics is absolutely central to chemistry, as it underlies the behaviour of all of the elements and their ...
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Here, Eric Scerri looks at the trends in properties of elements that led to the construction of the periodic table, and how the deeper meaning of its structure gradually became apparent with the development of atomic theory and quantum mechanics, so that, as Scerri puts it, one science, physics, arguably came to colonize another, chemistry, although such a view is resisted by chemists. Scerri shows that quantum mechanics is absolutely central to chemistry, as it underlies the behaviour of all of the elements and their compounds, and therefore underpins the structure of the periodic table. Concluding with an overview of the huge variety of periodic tables that have been proposed in the print media and on the Internet, he explores the debated question of whether there is an optimal periodic table and what form it might take. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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In this 2012 "very short introduction" from Oxford University Press, Dr Eric Scerri offers an account of a major symbol of science, the periodic table.. An author, chemist, and philosopher of science, Scerri is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA. Although he has written many detailed, technical research studies, Scerri also shows a flair in writing for and explaining scientific concepts to lay readers. In addition to this very short introduction, Scerri has written a longer book on the periodic table, "The Periodic Table: its History and Significance" (2007).
Scerri shows an enthusiasm for and deep knowledge of his subject in this short, engagingly written book. The book is historically informed as Scerri begins with the understanding of the elements of the ancient Greeks and works forward. The book allows the reader to appreciate the many preliminary scientific steps over the course of years on which the periodic table was based. The book has a strong element of human interest as Scerri offers brief biographical information about many of the individuals who contributed to the development and understanding of the periodic table.
Scerri emphasizes the importance of the periodic table in displaying what he terms the periodic law which states that "after certain regular but varying intervals, the chemical elements show an approximate repetition in their properties." He explains how the periodic law functions in both the horizontal and vertical rows of the periodic table.
The book offers a discussion of the development of the periodic table while also raising deep scientific and philosophical questions. For example, Scerri explores the impact of quantum theory and quantum mechanics on the understanding of the periodic table. Many scientists tend to reduce questions of the chemistry of the table to questions of quantum mechanics. Scerri argues that to date the chemistry of the table has not been reduced to purely quantum mechanical explanation. Scerri admits that it might be so reduced in the future. Thus Scerri opposes a reductionist account of the sciences which reduce all questions to questions of physics.
Scerri also develops the interplay between scientific and philosophical questions. He pronounces himself a "realist" as far as the periodic table is concerned. He holds that "the approximate repetition in the properties of the elements is an objective fact about the natural world". He contrasts this position to "instrumentalism" or "anti-realism" which holds that "the periodicity of the elements is a property that is imposed on nature by human agents." This philosophical disagreement may have consequences in the way scientists view the search for alternate versions of the periodic table. The instrumentalist would hold that different versions might be appropriate for different purposes while the realist would hold that the search for the best formulation of the periodic table was a search to discover, as nearly as possible, the properties of nature and to find the truth. The realist/anti-realist dispute has many formulations in philosophy and ramifications for how science is to be understood. Scerri also offers a great deal of insight into various philosophical understandings of substance and their impact on the development of the periodic table and of the philosophical/scientific understanding of the nature of matter. At one time, many scientists thought the elements were separate, and irreducible. With the development of atomic theory, it appears that all matter and all the elements have a fundamental underlying unity.
As a high school student, I was interested briefly in chemistry but never pursued the subject beyond college. I studied a good deal of philosophy. This very short introduction brought the fascination of the subject back to me after the larger part of a lifetime. The book teaches a great deal about the periodic table, about the development of scientific thought, and its relationship to philosophical thinking. I was grateful to have Scerri as a guide in this very short introduction to teach me about the periodic table and about the scientific way of thinking.
