Dimitri Mendeleev: The Famous Developer of the Periodic Table

Introduction 

Dimitri Mendeleev also known as Dmitry Ivanovich or Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleyev, was a famous Russian Periodic Table inventor born in Tobolsk Russia on the 8 th of February 1834. On the 27 th of April 1862, Dimitri married his first wife Feozna Nikitchna Lascheva. Their marriage took nearly 20 years before divorcing each other in 1882. The couple had two children, Vladimir and Olga. In the same year, Mendeleev married Anna Ivanova Popova and the couple had four children. Through Dimitri’s scientific discovery of how elements of the periodic table are classified, the famous periodic law inventor realized that, when identified chemical elements are organized in an atomic weight increasing sequence, the subsequent table exhibited a recurrent shape of properties within the element groups (A Biography of Dimitri Mendeleev, the Famous Developer of the periodic Table, n.d). During the 1871 periodic table version, Dimitri Mendeleev left a breach in places that he assumed unidentified elements would find their location. 

Mendeleev’s early life, education and achievements 

The early life of Dimitri Mendeleev was afflicted by catastrophe and combat. At an only age of 21 years, the popular scientific discoverer was a victim of tuberculosis and had lost his father, Ivan Mendeleyev. Mendeleev’s mother who has been left a window ended up in a glass industry so as to facilitate for the family. Despair struck again when Mendeleev’s mother lost the particular job in 1848 as the factory ran into a blaze. Despite all these tear-jerking moments, Dimitri did not give up as he was passionate about achieving his goals. He proceeded in becoming a professor in science by concealing himself in the scientific study. During the teaching profession tenure, Dmitry Ivanovich recognized how textbooks as scientific learning materials for his students were imperfect and incomprehensive. For the purpose of correcting this, Dimitri decided to write a textbook for science Russian students that would deliver an enhanced learning knowledge. Within his career lifetime, the well-known periodic table founder wrote over 400 books and articles. He achieved this through exploiting his strong universal scientific research and innovative theories and a robust academic background. In as much Dimitri Mendeleev ventured into the scientific discovery of the periodic table and became famous, improving and developing Russia’s industrial and agricultural resources was also another part of the central interest. According to A Biography of Dimitri Mendeleev, the Famous Developer of the Periodic Table (n.d), Dimitri also published a variety of projects in order to improve the coal industry. Due to desire in studying petroleum, Mendeleev toured all of the Russian territory and the United States. As a result, Dimitri research led to introduction of Russia’s first oil refinery. In his later age, Dmitri Ivanovich decided to focus on metrology after retiring from the profession of teaching. Within few years in the department of metrology, he had written an own metrology journal. The renowned inventor’s enthusiastic spirit towards a variety of disciplines is outshone by his massive discovery of the table of periodic tables. In 1867, his legacy made him privileged with the position of General Chemistry at Saint Petersburg University. Mendeleev used this position as a platform to shunt Russia to emphasis and develop on their chemistry knowledge. In 1869, Dimitri Mendeleev published a major book called “The Principles of Chemistry”. Due to the book’s popularity, it was translated to German, English, and French. In the same year, Mendeleev came out with another main work known as “The Relation between the Properties and Atomic Weights of Elements”. He arranged the known 65 elements into the periodic table. By 1889, Dimitri had finalized his periodic table and presented it in London. To date, this is the periodic table model that is still being used. In 1893, Dimitri was also made Russia’s director of the Central Board of Measures and Weights. After retiring from his University position in 1890, he became the government consultant the same year. Mendeleev was intensely concerned with the development of Russia’s agricultural and industrial resources. 

Awards 

Dimitri Mendeleev was endowed with “Copley Medal” in 1905. The royal society of British presented him this high ranking integrity due to his fame in the periodic table scientific discovery. He was also documented globally for his immense influence to the field of science, 

Minutiae 

At his early age in 1855 when Mendeleev was diagnosed with tuberculosis, doctors concluded that he had only two years to live. But Mendeleev proceeded to live for more 52years. There is a popular fable in Russia that it was Dimitri Mendeleev who standardized 40 percent of vodka strength. In real sense, the government of Russia had already set these vodka standards when Mendeleev was merely 9 years of age. In 1906, the Community of Nobel for chemistry indorsed Dimitri’s name to the Academy of Swedish for the chemistry Nobel Prize. However, Svante Arrhenius, had a great deal of influence on Swedish Academy, mounted pressure on Swedish Academy so Mendeleev’s name should be rejected. This was as a result of a personal grudge that Arrhenius held for Mendeleev. The hatred occurred when Dimitri criticized the dissociation theory of Arrhenius. Almost all of the Dimitri Mendeleev’s biographies was composed of his scientific results. However, the fact is that Dimitri also used to spend supplementary time and deliberated more of his time on questions pertaining the economy of Russia slightly than chemistry. 

Individual life and Heritage 

Dmitry Ivanovich, a well-known and honored scientific inventor died on the 2 nd of February 1907. His burial took place in Saint Petersburg with a huge number of mourners attending. The mourners came along with several periodic table prints as a sign of showing tribute to the fallen legend who enormously donated to science sector. In memory and honor to the scientific contribution of Dimitri Mendeleev, Element number 101 which was founded in 1955, was named after him. 

Conclusion 

It is crystal clear how famous worldwide Nobel Prize winner exhibited his determination and passion in what he believed was best for him and to entire world. Regardless of numerous encounters he went through, Dimitri Mendeleev did not give up but remained focused and determined in attaining his visions. Mendeleev’s account is one of the most important mentorship to scholars, those that feel they have talents and are not able to explore them due to limiting factors never give up. A good example is derived from Dimitri Mendeleev, a global famous scientist who lost his father at a tender age, the time he has not even accomplished his education. Also, at the same time, Mendeleev’s mother who had remained as the only option in facilitating his education lost the job. Basing on the Christian motive, human being should solely depend on God for all their endeavors. For example, at the time when Dimitri was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Doctors concluded that he had only two years to live. Dimitri lived 52 years more, a life span in which exhibited all of legendary. 

Reference 

A Biography of Dimitri Mendeleev, the Famous Developer of the Periodic Table . (n.d). Retrieved from. 

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