Alternative Periodic Tables
Alternative periodic tables are tabulations of chemical elements differing significantly in their organization from the traditional depiction of the periodic system. Several have been devised, often purely for didactic reasons, as not all correlations between the chemical Elements are effectively captured by the standard Periodic table.
Contents
- Alternative Periodic Tables
- Left step periodic table Janet 1928
- ADOMAH 2006
- Two dimensional spiral Benfey 1964
- Three dimensional physicists Timothy Stowe
- Three dimensional flower like Paul Gigure 1966
- Elements repeating Ronald L Rich 2005
- Other
- Variants of the classical layout
- Extension of the periodic table
- References
Alternative periodic tables are developed often to highlight or emphasize different chemical or physical properties of the elements which are not as apparent in traditional periodic tables. Some tables aim to emphasize both the nucleon and electronic structure of atoms. This can be done by changing the spatial relationship or representation each element has with respect to another element in the table. Other tables aim to emphasize the chemical element isolations by humans over time.
Left step periodic table (Janet, 1928)
Charles Janet's Left step periodic table (1928) is considered to be the most significant alternative to the traditional depiction of the periodic system. It organizes elements according to orbital filling (instead of valence) and is widely used by physicists.
Compared to the common layout, the Left step table has these changes:
ADOMAH (2006)
A modern version of the periodic table is constructed by Valery Tsimmerman, named the ADOMAH periodic table (2006). Its structure is based on the four quantum numbers of the electron configuration, hence it has a four-dimensional base.
Two-dimensional spiral (Benfey, 1964)
In Theodor Benfey's periodic table (1964), the elements form a two-dimensional spiral, starting from hydrogen, and folding their way around two peninsulars, the transition metals, and lanthanides and actinides. A superactinide island is already slotted in. The Chemical Galaxy (2004) is organized in a similar way.
Three-dimensional, physicist's (Timothy Stowe)
Timothy Stowe's physicist's periodic table is three-dimensional with the three axes representing the principal quantum number, orbital quantum number, and orbital magnetic quantum number. Helium is again a group 2 element.
Three-dimensional, flower-like (Paul Giguère, 1966)
Paul Giguère's 3-D periodic table consists of 4 connected billboards with the elements written on the front and the back. The first billboard has the group 1 elements on the front and the group 2 elements at the back, with hydrogen and helium omitted altogether. At a 90° angle the second billboard contains the groups 13 to 18 front and back. Two more billboard each making 90° angles contain the other elements.
Elements repeating (Ronald L. Rich, 2005)
Ronald L. Rich has proposed a periodic table where elements appear more than once when appropriate. He notes that hydrogen shares properties with group 1 elements based on valency, with group 17 elements because hydrogen is a non-metal but also with the carbon group based on similarities in chemical bonding to transition metals and a similar electronegativity. In this rendition of the periodic table carbon and silicon also appear in the same group as titanium and zirconium.
Other
A chemists' table ("Newlands Revisited") with an alternative positioning of hydrogen, helium and the lanthanides was published by EG Marks and JA Marks in 2010.
Variants of the classical layout
From Mendeleev's original periodic table, elements have been basically arranged by valence (groups in columns) and the repetition therein (periods in rows). Over the years and with discoveries in atomic structure, this schema has been adjusted and expanded, but not changed as a principle.
The oldest periodic table is the short form table (columns I–VIII) by Dmitri Mendeleev, which shows secondary chemical kinships. For example, the alkali metals and the coinage metals (copper, silver, gold) are in the same column because both groups tend to have a valence of one. This format is still used by many, as shown by this contemporary Russian short form table which includes all elements and element names until roentgenium.
H.G. Deming used the so-called long periodic table (18 columns) in his textbook General Chemistry, which appeared in the USA for the first time in 1923 (Wiley), and was the first to designate the first two and the last five Main Groups with the notation "A", and the intervening Transition Groups with the notation "B".
The numeration was chosen so that the characteristic oxides of the B groups would correspond to those of the A groups. The iron, cobalt, and nickel groups were designated neither A nor B. The Noble Gas Group was originally attached (by Deming) to the left side of the periodic table. The group was later switched to the right side and usually labeled as Group VlllA.
Extension of the periodic table
In the extended periodic table, suggested by Glenn T. Seaborg in 1969, yet unknown elements are included up to atomic number 218. Theoretical periods above regular period 7 are added.
In the research field of superatoms, clusters of atoms have properties of single atoms of another element. It is suggested to extend the periodic table with a second layer to be occupied with these cluster compounds. The latest addition to this multi-story table is the aluminium cluster ion Al−
7, which behaves like a multivalent germanium atom.