TED-Ed: The genius of Mendeleev's periodic table - Lou Serico

The video explores the significance of the periodic table and Dmitri Mendeleev's contributions. Mendeleev's genius lay in predicting undiscovered elements, such as gallium, by leaving placeholders in the table. His predictions were validated with the discovery of gallium, which matched his forecasts. Despite not winning a Nobel Prize, Mendeleev's legacy endures, with the element mendelevium named in his honor. The video highlights his impact on chemistry and his recognition as a scientific pioneer.

What makes Dmitri Mendeleev's periodic table stand out compared to previous attempts?

• He arranged elements by atomic number.

• He was the first to list all known elements.

• He predicted the existence of undiscovered elements.

• He grouped elements by color.

What was the predicted name given by Mendeleev to the element that was later discovered as gallium?

• Eka-boron

• Eka-aluminum

• Eka-carbon

• Eka-silicon

Which of the following properties did Mendeleev predict for eka-aluminum?

• It would be a gas at room temperature.

• It would have a high melting point.

• It would be a solid metal with a low melting point.

• It would be non-conductive.

Which element did Mendeleev predict that was not discovered until it was synthesized in a cyclotron?

• Technetium

• Scandium

• Gallium

• Germanium

What unique honor was bestowed upon Mendeleev posthumously?

• Winning a Nobel Prize

• Having a university named after him

• Being knighted

• Having an element named after him