We must expect the discovery of many as yet unknown elements-for example, elements analogous to aluminum and silicon- whose atomic weight would be between 65 and 75.
Dmitri MendeleevRead
The magnitude of the atomic weight determines the character of the element, just as the magnitude of the molecule determines the character of a compound body.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The properties of scientific substances are defined by their atomic and molecular weights.
This quote by Dmitri Mendeleev emphasizes that the characteristics of elements and compounds are fundamentally related to their atomic and molecular weights. Just as each element has a unique atomic weight that contributes to its identity and behavior, the combination of atoms into molecules defines the resulting compound's properties. This highlights the importance of atomic structure in chemistry and how it shapes our understanding of matter.
Themes
Atomic WeightElementsMoleculesCharacterScienceChemistry
In practice
Example use cases
In a science class, when discussing periodic table elements, one might say, 'As Mendeleev pointed out, the magnitude of atomic weight determines the character of the element.'
More from Dmitri Mendeleev
All quotes βNo law of nature, however general, has been established all at once; its recognition has always been preceded by many presentiments.
Dmitri MendeleevRead
The most all penetrating spirit before which will open the possibility of tilting not tables, but planets, is the spirit of free human inquiry. Believe only in that.
Dmitri MendeleevRead
It is the function of science to discover the existence of a general reign of order in nature and to find the causes governing this order. And this refers in equal measure to the relations of man - social and political - and to the entire universe as a whole.
Dmitri MendeleevRead
The edifice of science not only requires material, but also a plan. Without the material, the plan alone is but a castle in the air-a mere possibility; whilst the material without a plan is but useless matter.
Dmitri MendeleevRead
Similar quotes
More than two decades after the birth of Louise Brown, and all the hysteria that surrounded her 'test tube' conception, we should know that institutions, not technologies, create dystopias. Artificially conceived children are everywhere, beloved by their parents, and they haven't radically altered our world.
Virginia PostrelRead
Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis: you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory.
Stephen HawkingRead
Markets have built in inefficiencies, serious inefficiencies which are well known.
Noam ChomskyRead
A single neuron in the brain is an incredibly complex machine that even today we don't understand. A single 'neuron' in a neural network is an incredibly simple mathematical function that captures a minuscule fraction of the complexity of a biological neuron.
Andrew NgRead
During my medical education at the University of Basle I found vivisection horrible, barbarous and above all unnecessary
Carl JungRead
In space, you need to exercise your heart since it's not pumping blood around at the same rate.
Mae JemisonRead