The Great Dmitri Mendeleev

A chemist that I have resonated with is the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. The most
notable thing he has done for the science community is initiate the now very important periodic
table that is used among chemists and other disciplines. Mendeleev discovered periodic laws
that elements were following, which also allowed hypotheses on how other unknown elements
would react (Biography). He studied Principles of Chemistry, while also making the discovery of
element patterns and characteristics (Biography).

I identify with Mendeleev solely because a pattern he noticed portrayed by such minuscule
things found on earth were much larger in reality. I think life is one giant pattern, and for
Mendeleev to find the smallest patterns of matter really blows my mind. It comforts me in a way,
knowing there is a pattern followed by the physical, and I feel like it makes me much more
conscious of life, physical and non-physical (very hippie to say but that’s my outlook). I also rely
on it very much when working through problems that require you to think about electronegativity,
hybridization, or even orbitals. The periodic table has pathed many things and can tell you so
much about elements: valence electrons, charge, and groups (i.e. halogens). All these attributes
of the periodic table make it one of my most favorite things in the chemistry realm for its
simplicity and complexity.

For me, personally, it means a lot knowing there was a person who started to connect the dots
for chemists. It is one of those crazy events that shape a large community for the better. I think
in earlier decades presenting newly thought ideas and hypotheses can be frowned upon, which
makes me happy to know Mendeleev was able to bring his studies to life and help other
scientists in the process. I have a great appreciation for new-age thinkers because without
people like Mendeleev where would chemistry be at this very moment?
 Work Cited
Dmitri Mendeleev. Biography.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021, from
https://www.biography.com/.