Open a chemistry book, and go on the back page. I would bet money that there is a periodic table on the back. Especially, with chemistry, the periodic table plays an important role. Whether it is from classifying elements, finding out the atomic number/mass of a certain element, or just browsing and looking at how the chemical abbreviation of some elements don't relate at all to it's actual name; The periodic table plays a huge role in the world of science. With all this talk of periodic tables though, It would be nice to know who invented it, wouldn't you care to know? This chemist not only constructed the periodic table but also has an element dedicated to him (Mendelevium, Md, Element 101) That is why this chemist is one of my favorites.
Mendeleev entered the world on February, 8, 1834 in Tobolsk, Russia. He was the 17th and last child that his parents, Maria Dmitrievna Korniliev, and Ivan Pavlovitch Mendeleev. Mendeleev received early exposure to science and to chemistry especially, when he was a young boy he spent much time in the glass-factory, observing the various processes of producing, shaping and embedding colors in the glass products, observing and querying Timofei Arkadivitch Stepanov, the chief glass blower at the factory, and Andrei the Chemist who mixed chemicals into the molten glass and create colors of violet and yellow and deep green in the molten mass. As a young boy he was introduced to the world of science and this is only the spark that ignited the flame. He stood out as a young boy for having a great memory, allowing him to join in adult conversations to supply dates and places and other facts the adults had trouble remembering. He also early showed mathematical ability, performing mental computations and problems for the residents. He received a boyhood science education of broader scope from his brother-in-law, Bassargin, an educated man who had been exiled to Siberia after taking part, in 1825, in a failed revolt against the Tsar.
As a man, Mendeleev was driven and passionate, along with his greatest work, the periodic law and periodic table of the elements, he researched, spoke, and wrote at a crazy pace. A fine-print list of his published works would take up ten pages. Chemistry was his biggest passion, but he also played a major role in the economic development of Russia by modernizing that nation's weights and measures and through his advocacy of improved mining, manufacturing, agriculture, and trade. He fought ignorance and mysticism by reforming education and opening the study of science to women, and helped found and head the Russian Chemical Society. He worked each day and night that it became a habit, driven with determination.
In 1869, Mendeleev came up with a way to organize the known elements. He set them out in order of atomic weight, and then grouped them into rows according to their physical and chemical properties. Mendeleev had no idea what atoms were made of or why they
