Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On books and chemical elements

  • Published:
Foundations of Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The history of the classification of chemical elements is reviewed from the point of view of a bibliophile. The influence that relevant books had on the development of the periodic table and, conversely, how it was incorporated into textbooks, treatises and literary works, with an emphasis on the Spanish bibliography are analyzed in this paper. The reader will also find unexpected connections of the periodic table with the Bible or the architect Buckminster Fuller.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez, S.: Music of the elements. N. J. Chem. 32, 571–580 (2008) doi:10.1039/b718401h

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampère, A.-M.: D’une Classification naturelle pour les Corps simples. Ann. Chim. Phys. 1, 295–308 (1815a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampère, A.-M.: Suite de l’Essai d’une Classification naturelle pour les Corps simples. Ann. Chim. Phys. 1, 373–394 (1815b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampère, A.-M.: Suite d’une Classification naturelle pour les Corps simples. Ann. Chim. Phys. 2, 108–125 (1816a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ampère, A.-M.: Suite d’une Classification naturelle pour les Corps simples. Ann. Chim. Phys. 2, 5–32 (1816b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Aragón de la Cruz, F.: Historia de la Química. Editorial Síntesis, Madrid (2004)

  • Ball, P.: The Devil’s Doctor. William Heinemann, London (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassichis, W.H., Kerman, A.K.: Self-consistent calculations of shell effects including the proposed island of stability. Phys. Rev. C Nucl. Phys. 2, 1768 (1970) doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.2.1768

    Google Scholar 

  • Becquerel, A.-H.: On the rays emitted by phosphorescence. Compt. Rend. 122, 420 (1896)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bensaude-Vincent, B., García Belmar, A., Bertomeu Sánchez, J.R.: L’Émergence d’une science des manuels. Les livres de chimie en France (1789–1852). Éditions des Archives Contemporaines, París (2003)

  • Berzelius, J.J.: Essay on the cause of chemical proportions, and on some circumstances relating to them; together with a short and easy method of expressing. Them. Ann. Phil. 3, 51–62, 93–106, 244–257, 353–364 (1814)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berzelius, J.J.: Tratado de química, vol. 9, Ignacio Boix, Madrid, p. 216 (1849)

  • Bonilla Mirat, S.: Tratado elemental de química general y descriptiva, 2nd edn. Hijos de Rodríguez, Valladolid (1881)

  • Bonilla Mirat, S.: Tratado elemental de química general, 3rd edn. Hijos de Rodríguez, Valladolid (1884)

  • Boyle, R.: The Sceptical Chymist: or Chymico-Physical Doubts & Paradoxes, Touching the Spagyrist’s Principles Commonly call’d Hypostatical, As they are wont to be Propos’d and Defended by the Generality of Alchymists. F. Crooke, London (1661)

  • Brush, S.G.: The reception of Mendeleev’s periodic law in America and Britain. Isis 87, 595–628 (1996) doi:10.1086/357649

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckminster Fuller, R.B., Applewhite, E.J.: Synergetics. Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking. MacMillan, New York (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahours, A.: Leçons de chimie générale élémentaire profesées a l’École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures. Mallet-Bachellier, París (1855–1856)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannizzaro, S.: Sunto di un corso di filosofia chimica. Nuovo Cim. 7, 321–366 (1858) doi:10.1007/BF02827711

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannizzaro, S.: Sketch of a Course of Chemical Philosophy. Alembic Club Reprints, Edinburgh (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caven, R.M., Lander, G.D.: Systematic Inorganic Chemistry, 4th edn. Blackie & Son Ltd., Londres (1931)

    Google Scholar 

  • Claridge, G.C.: Coronium. J. R. Astron. Soc. Can. 31, 337–346 (1937)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, B.R.: The element of the table: visual discourse and the preperiodic representation of chemical classification. Configurations 12, 41–75 (2004) doi:10.1353/con.2005.0001

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordero, B., Gómez, V. et al.: Covalent radii revisited. Dalton Trans. 2832–2838 (2008) doi: 10.1039/b801115j

  • Curie, P., Curie, M.: Sur une substance nouvelle radio-active, contenue dans la pechblende. Compt. Rend. 127, 175–178 (1898)

    Google Scholar 

  • Curie, P., Curie, M., Bémont, M.G.: Sur une nouvelle substance fortement radio-active, contenue dans la pechblende. Compt. Rend. 127, 1215–1217 (1898)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalton, J.: A New System of Chemical Philosophy. S. Russell, Manchester (1808)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Chancourtois, A.-E.B.: Mémoire sur un classement naturel des corps simples ou radicaux appelé vis tellurique. Compt. Rend. 54, 757–761 (1862)

    Google Scholar 

  • De Clave, E.: Nouvelle lumiere philosophique des vrais principes et elemens de nature, & qualité d’iceux. Olivier de Varennes, Paris (1641)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Luanco, J.R.: Compendio de las lecciones de química general: explicadas en la Universidad de Barcelona, 2nd edn. Barcelona (1884)

  • Döbereiner, J.W.: Versuch zu einer Gruppirung der elementaren Stoffe nach ihrer Analogie. Ann. Phys. Chim. 15, 301–307 (1829) doi:10.1002/andp.18290910217

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J.B.: Mémoire sur les équivalents des corps simples. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., Paris 45, 709–731 (1857)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J.B.: Note sur les équivalents des corps simples. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., Paris 46, 951–953 (1858a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumas, J.B.: Mémoire sur les équivalents des corps simples (Suite). Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., Paris 47, 1026–1034 (1858b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, A.: Laws and Order in Eighteen-Century Chemistry. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckert, G.W.: Chemistry and the poems of Erasmus Darwin. J. Chem. Educ. 15, 63 (1938)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edlén, B.: Die Deutung der Emissionslinien im Spektrum der Sonnenkorona. Z. Astrophys. 22, 30–62 (1942)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichler, R., Aksenov, N.V. et al.: Chemical characterization of element 112. Nature 447, 72 (2007) doi:10.1038/nature05761

    Google Scholar 

  • Fittig, R.: In: Fehling, H.v. (ed.) Neues Handwörterbuch der Chemie, vol. 1, 2nd edn, p. 889. Braunschweig, Vieweg (1874)

  • Geoffroy, É.-F.: Table des différents rapports observés en Chimie entre différentes substances. Mém. Acad. Royale Sci. 212 (1718)

  • Gmelin, L.: Hand-Book of Chemistry, vol. 2, Cavendish Society, London, p. 1 (1849)

  • Gordin, M.D.: A Well Ordered Thing. Dimitrii Mendeleev and the Shadow of the Periodic Table. Basic Books, New York (2004)

  • Goytisolo, J.A.: De las horas quemadas. Lumen, Barcelona (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, A.: From Alchemy to Chemistry in Picture and Story. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Grotrian, W.: Zur Frage der Deutung der Linien im Spektrum der Sonnenkorona. Naturwiss. 27, 214 (1939) doi:10.1007/BF01488890

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, J.H.: Principles of Chemistry. The Macmillan Company, New York (1918)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, G.: On the spectra and composition of the elements. Am. J. Sci. 42, 350–368 (1866)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, G.: Atomechanik oder die Chemie Eine Mechanik der Panatome. Iowa City, Davenport, Iowa (1867)

  • Hinrichs, G.: Natural classification of the elements. Pharmacist 2, 10–12 (1869)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichs, G.: The Principles of Chemistry and Molecular Mechanics. Day, Egbert, & Fidlar, Davenport, Iowa (1874)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, R., Djerassi C.: Oxygen. Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jou, D.: Joc d’ombres. Columna, Barcelona (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Juan, J., de Ulloa, A.: Relación histórica del viage a la América Meridional, vol. II, book VI, chapter X. Antonio Marín, Madrid, p. 606 (1748)

  • Juan, J., de Ulloa, A.: A Voyage to South-America. In: Davis, L., Reymers, C., vol. 2, Book VI, chapter X, London (1758)

  • Kaji, M.: D. I. Mendeleev’s concept of chemical elements and the principles of chemistry. Bull. Hist. Chem. 27, 4 (2002)

  • Karpenko, V.: The discovery of supposed new elements: two centuries of errors. Ambix 27, 77–94 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchhoff, G., Bunsen, R.: Chemical analysis by observation of spectra. Ann. Phys. Chem. Poggendorff 110, 161–189 (1860) doi:10.1002/andp.18601860602

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, R.E.: The History and Use of Our Earth’s Chemical Elements. A Reference Guide, 2nd edn. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir, I.: The arrangement of electrons in atoms and molecules. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 41, 868–934 (1919) doi:10.1021/ja02227a002

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavoisier, A.: Elements of Chemistry, 5th edn. W. Creech, London (1802)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavoisier, A.-L.: Traité élémentaire de chimie. Cuchet, París (1789)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lecoq de Boisbaudran, P.E.: Caractères chimiques et spectroscopiques d’un nouveau metal, le Gallium, d’couvert dans une blende de la mine de Pierrefitte, vallée d’Argelès (Pyrènèes). Compt. Rend. 81, 493–495 (1875)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leicester, H., Klickestein, H.S.: A Source Book in Chemistry 1400–1900. McGraw Hill, New York (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levi, P.: The Periodic Table. Penguin Books, London (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, E.H.: White Lightning. Covici-McGee, Chicago (1923)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano y Ponce de León, E.: Elementos de química, 2nd edn. Jaime Jepús Roviralta, Barcelona (1891)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macquer, P.J.: Elemens de chymie-théorique. Jean-Thomas Herissant, Paris (1753)

    Google Scholar 

  • Macquer, P.J.: Elementos de quimica-theorica. Pedro Marín, Madrid (1784)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mans, C.: Els falsos elements. Rev. Soc. Cat. Quim. (2008) (in press)

  • Marco, F.: Nozioni di Chimica secondo li teorie moderne, 6th edn. Paravia, Torino (1883)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marco, F.: Elementi di Chimica secondo il sistema periodico, 7ª edn. Paravia, Torino (1887)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcolain San Juan, P.: Ejercicios prácticos de química moderna: obra utilísima a los alumnos de segunda enseñanza y de universidad. Establecimiento tipográfico de Comas, Zaragoza (1884)

  • Mascareñas, E.: Introducción al estudio de la química. Crónica Cienífica, Barcelona (1884)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascareñas, E.: Elementos de química general y descriptiva. Imprenta de Pedro Ortega, Barcelona (1903)

  • Mascareñas, E.: Elementos de química general y descriptiva, 2nd edn. Pedro Ortega, Barcelona (1913)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazurs, E.G.: Graphic Representation of the Periodic System During One Hundred Years, 2nd edn. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, E.M., Abelson, P.H.: Radioactive element 93. Phys. Rev. 57, 1185–1186 (1940) doi:10.1103/PhysRev.57.1185.2

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: Ueber die Beziehungen der Eigenschaften zu den Atomgewichten der Elemente. Z. Chem. 12, 405–406 (1869a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: On the correlation between the properties of the elements, their atomic weights. Zh. Russ. Fiz.-. Khim. Obsch. 1, 60–77 (1869b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: Osnovy khimii. Typograhpy of the Obshchestvennaya Pol’za Partnership, Saint Petersburg (1869–1871)

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: Die periodische Gesetzmäfisgkeit der chemischen Elemente. Liebigs Ann. Chem. Supplementband 8, 133–229 (1871)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: The periodic law of the chemical elements––Faraday Lecture. J. Chem. Soc. 55, 634–656 (1889)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: The Principles of Chemistry. Longmans, London (1891)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: Grundlagen der Chemie. Verlag von Carl Ricker, Saint Petersburg (1892)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendeleev, D.I.: An Attempt Towards a Chemical Conception of the Ether. Longmans, Green & Co., Londres (1904)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, L.: Die modernen Theorien der Chemie und ihre Bedeutung für die chemische Mechanik. (1864)

  • Meyer, L.: Die Natur der chemischen Elemente als Function ihrer Atomgewichte. Liebigs Ann. Chem. Supplementband 7, 354–364 (1870)

    Google Scholar 

  • Minichino C.: The Nitrogen Murder: A Periodic Table Mystery. Thomas Dunne Books, New York (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moseley, H.G.J.: The high-frequency spectra of the elements. Philos. Mag. 26, 1024 (1913)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neruda, P.: Canto General. Talleres Gráficos de la Nación, Mexico (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newlands, J.A.R.: Relations between equivalents. Chem. News. 10, 59 (1864)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newlands, J.A.R.: On the Law of Octaves. Chem. News. 12, 83 (1865)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newlands, J.A.R.: On the Discovery of the Periodic Law and on the Relations Among the Atomic Weights. Spon, Londres (1884)

    Google Scholar 

  • Newth, G.S.: A Text-Book of Inorganic Chemistry, 9th edn. Longmans, Green & Co., Londres (1902)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilson, L.F.: Sur l’ytterbine, terre nouvelle de M. Marignac. Compt. Rend. 88, 642–647 (1879)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald, W.: Grundlinien der anorganische Chemie. Engelmann, Leipzig (1900)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parra, N.: Hojas de Parra. Ganymedes, Santiago de Chile (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Partington, J.R.: A Short History of Chemistry, 3rd edn. Macmillan, London (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauli, W.: Über den Zusammenhang des Abschlusses der Elektronengruppen im Atom mit der Komplexstruktur der Spektren. Z. Phys. 31, 765–783 (1925)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellón González, I.: In: García Hourcade, J.L., Moreno Yuste, J.M., Ruiz Hernández, G. (eds.) Estudios de historia de las técnicas, la arqueología industrial y las ciencias. Junta de Castilla y León, Valladolid (1998)

  • Perrier, C., Segré, E.: Some chemical properties of element 43. J. Chem. Phys. 5, 712–716 (1937) doi:10.1063/1.1750105

    Google Scholar 

  • Piñerúa Alvarez, E.: Principios de química mineral y orgánica, 2nd edn. Valladolid (1901)

  • Rammelsberg, C.F.: Grundriss der Chemie gemäss den neueren Ansichten, 4th edn. Habel, Berlin (1874)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, E.: Deflection of alpha particles. Philos. Mag. 21, 669–688 (1911)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford, E.: The structure of the atom. Nature 92, 423 (1913) doi:10.1038/092423a0

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacks, O.: Uncle Tungsten. Memories of a Chemical Boyhood. Picador, London (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scerri, E.R.: The Periodic Table: Its Story and Its Significance. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, J.H.M., Wichmann, R.: Ground-based observation of emission lines from the corona of a red-dwarf star. Nature 412, 508 (2001) doi:10.1038/35087513

    Google Scholar 

  • Schützenberger, P.: Traité de Chimie Générale, 1st edn. Hachette, París (1880–1894)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seaborg, G.T., Wahl, A.C., Kennedy, J.W.: Radioactive element 94 from Deuterons on Uranium. Phys. Rev. 69, 367 (1946) doi:10.1103/PhysRev.69.367

    Google Scholar 

  • Seaborg, G.T., Loveland W.D.: The Elements Beyond Uranium. Wiley, New York (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Soddy, F.: Intra-atomic charge. Nature 92, 399–400 (1913) doi:10.1038/092399c0

    Google Scholar 

  • Strecker, A.: Theorien und Experimente zur Bestimmung der Atomgewichte der Elemente. Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig (1859)

    Google Scholar 

  • Terron, À.: El llibre del mercuri. Edicions del Mall, Sant Boi de Llobregat (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  • Terron, À.: De Bell Nou. Café Central, Barcelona (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Terron, À.: Iniciació a la química. Editorial Moll, Palma de Mallorca (1996)

  • Terron, À.: À mon seul désir. El Tall, Palma de Mallorca (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres Muñoz de Luna, R.: Elementos de Química General, 4th edn. Librería de Sánchez, Madrid (1877)

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhlenbeck, G.E., Goudsmit, S.: Ersetzung der Hypothese vom unmechanischen Zwang durch eine Forderung bezüglich des inneren Verhaltens jedes einzelnen Elektrons. Naturwiss. 13, 953 (1925) doi:10.1007/BF01558878

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhlenbeck, G.E., Goudsmit, S.: Spinning electrons and the structure of spectra. Nature 117, 264 (1926) doi:10.1038/117264a0

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Broek, A.: Intra-atomic charge. Nature 92, 372–373 (1913) doi:10.1038/092372c0

    Google Scholar 

  • van Spronsen, J.W.: The Periodic System of the Elements: A History of The First Hundred Years. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Venable, F.P.: The Development of the Periodic Law. Chemical Publishing Co., Easton, PA (1896)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vila Vendrell, S.: Tratado teórico-experimental de Química General y Descriptiva, con aplicación a la Medicina, Farmacia e Industria. Agustín Bosch, Barcelona (1915)

    Google Scholar 

  • von Gorup-Besanez, E.F.: Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chemie, 5th edn. Vieweg, Braunsweig (1873)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, M.E.: The Discovery of the Elements, 1st edn. Mack Printing Co., Easton, PA (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks, M.E., Sanromà i Nicolau, A.: Historia de los elementos químicos/Historia de los elementos artificiales. Manuel Marín, Barcelona (1949)

  • Weeks, M.E., Leicester H.M.: Discovery of the Elements, 7th edn. Journal of Chemical Education, Easton, PA (1968)

  • Werner, A.: Beitrag zum Ausbau des periodischen Systems. Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges. 38, 914 (1905) doi:10.1002/cber.190503801163

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, A.: New Ideas on Inorganic Chemistry. Longmans, Green & Co, London (1911)

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkler, C.: Germanium, Ge, ein neues, nichtmetallisches Element. Ber. Deutsch. Chem. Ges. 19, 210–211 (1886) doi:10.1002/cber.18860190156

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank J. L. Gómez, L. Navarro, I. Parés, A. Gomar, C. Mans, J. R. Bertomeu-Sánchez, E. Scerri and M. Verdaguer for suggestions and discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Química Inorgànica, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, 1-11, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Santiago Alvarez, Joaquim Sales & Miquel Seco

Authors
  1. Santiago Alvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joaquim Sales
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Miquel Seco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Santiago Alvarez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alvarez, S., Sales, J. & Seco, M. On books and chemical elements. Found Chem 10, 79–100 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-008-9047-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10698-008-9047-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation