How a Card Game Changed Chemistry Forever
Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, is best known for creating the Periodic Table of Elements. His inspiration, however, came from an unlikely source: the card game known as solitaire in North America and “patience” elsewhere. In this game, cards are arranged both by suit horizontally and by number vertically. This simple yet structured method of organization would prove revolutionary for Mendeleev’s study of chemical elements.
Mendeleev faced the challenge of organizing the 63 elements known at the time in a coherent manner. Seeking a solution, he borrowed from the systematic approach of solitaire. He created a set of cards, one for each element, and meticulously noted the atomic weight and properties on each card. This innovative approach allowed him to physically manipulate and compare the elements, seeking patterns and relationships among them.
The Process
Mendeleev’s dedication to this method was intense. He took the cards with him everywhere, reflecting on the arrangement at all times. On February 17, 1869, after a hasty breakfast and with a train to catch, Mendeleev became deeply engrossed in his work. For three consecutive days and nights, he tirelessly arranged and rearranged the cards, seeking an underlying order. This process was both exhaustive and illuminating.
As he organized the cards by increasing atomic mass, Mendeleev noticed that certain properties of the elements began to repeat periodically. This was a significant breakthrough, as it suggested a natural order to the elements that could be predicted and understood. The gaps he identified in this sequence indicated that there were elements yet to be discovered, but whose properties he could predict based on the emerging pattern.
The Discovery
Mendeleev’s persistence paid off. By identifying these gaps and predicting the properties of the missing elements, he was able to propose a more comprehensive and accurate table of elements. This table not only organized the known elements but also guided future discoveries. For example, elements such as gallium and germanium were later discovered, fitting perfectly into the gaps Mendeleev had predicted.
This predictive power validated Mendeleev’s periodic table and cemented its place as a foundational tool in chemistry. The structure and logic he applied, akin to the card game, provided a clear and intuitive way to understand the relationships between different elements.
Legacy
Despite what some like Terrence Howard may say, the impact of Mendeleev’s periodic table cannot be overstated. It transformed the field of chemistry by providing a systematic framework that linked atomic structure with chemical properties. This not only facilitated the discovery of new elements but also advanced our understanding of chemical reactions and bonding.
It’s funny how a fun and frivolous card game like Solitaire — a staple pastime for me on all long haul flights — led a lone genius to create a chemistry revolution. And where else would you find such a game than on a beautiful new Table? Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t be too hard on my son for his Pokémon addiction…he could be the next Mendeleev!
Have a M.A.G.I.C. Week!
Brian
Appearance
In my career, I’ve not only lost the Nobel Prize, but I’ve also interviewed many Nobel Laureates. That’s why I was invited to the Morning Wave in Busan with Katherine Bang, where I had the pleasure of discussing this in depth.
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My second book Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner was just released in Korea. Its title is a bit different “ In Korean, it’s:
“Physicists Don’t Believe in Intuition: Into the Impossible”
“Luck, Talent, and One More Thing Needed: A Story about the Attitude Toward Life”
If you don’t read Korean, buy a copy here in English.
News flash: volume two is in preparation with 9 more masters of their craft, Nobel Prize winning geniuses!
Conversation
Is the universe twice as old as we thought?
Current estimates suggest that the Big Bang occurred 13.8 billion years ago. But today, we’re joined by Rajendra Gupta, a luminary in the field of cosmology who claims that the universe is actually 26.7 billion years old. I’ve invited him on the show so he can make a case for his claims!
Professor Gupta is a theoretical physicist currently teaching astrophysics to senior undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on astrophysics, cosmology, general relativity, the dynamics of the universe under evolutionary physical constants beyond the standard model, CMB, JWST, BAO, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the large-scale structure and formation of galaxies, dark matter, and dark energy.
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