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.'
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