Question

A part of the early classification of elements has been given below:

H	Li	Be	B	C	N	O
F	Na	Mg	Al	Si	P	S

(a) Which law of classification of element is illustrated by the above arrangement of elements?
(b) Name the scientist who proposed such a classification of elements.
(c) Why is such a classification of elements compared with a characteristics of musical scale?
(d) State one limitation of this classification of elements.

Answer 1

(a) Newlands' law of octaves is illustrated by the above arrangement of elements.

(b) John Newlands is the scientist who proposed this classification of elements.

(c) This classification is compared with a characteristic of the musical scale because the repetition of the properties of elements is just like the repetition of the eighth note in an octave of music.

(d) Limitation: Newlands' law of octaves could only be applied up to the element calcium.