Article ID: CBB000641717

Are the Elements Elementary? Nineteenth-Century Chemical and Spectroscopical Answers (2003)

unapi

We analyze the role and influence of a tradition of research linked to the concept of rdquoprimary matterrdquo in nineteenth-century studies on the nature of the elements.The suggestion of William Prout (1785-1850) in 1816 that the atomic weights of pure chemical elements are whole numbers and multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen, taken as unity, was met with serious confutations,which in turn prompted several attempts to save Proutrsquos hypothesis.We discuss these attempts in detail and the objections raised against them, for instance by Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834-1907). We pay particular attention to the use of spectroscopy as a method for proving the existence of elementary forms of matter inside atoms. Leaders in this field of research were two English scientists, the astrophysicist Norman Lockyer (1836-1920) and the chemist William Crookes (1832- 1919). Both of their approaches involved the idea of primary matter. However, while Crookesrsquos approach proved to be incorrect, Lockyerrsquos ideas survived for several years and supported the discovery of the electron by J.J.Thomson (1856-1940). Spectroscopy - enhanced lines - chemical fractionation - meta-elements - primary matter - proto-elements - protyle - William Prout - Proutrsquos hypothesis - Dmitry Mendeleev - Norman Lockyer - William Crookes

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Authors & Contributors
Yoshihara, H. Kenji
Kragh, Helge S.
Bigg, Charlotte
Marks, E. G.
Zambon, Alfio
Oliveira, João A. B. P.
Concepts
Chemistry
Chemical elements
Spectroscopy
Physics
Scientific apparatus and instruments
Periodic system of the elements; periodic table
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
20th century, early
18th century
21st century
Qing dynasty (China, 1644-1912)
Places
Japan
Sweden
Portugal
France
Europe
China
Institutions
Tōhoku Daigaku (Japan)
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