What were the limitations of Mendeleev's Periodic Table?

Hi Anirudh, In spite of many advantages, the Mendeleevs periodic table has certain defects also. Some of these are given below: (A) Position of hydrogen : Position of hydrogen in the periodic table is uncertain. It has been placed in 1A group with alkali metals, but certain properties of hydrogen resemble those of halogens. So, it may be placed in the group for halogens as well. (B) Position of isotopes : Isotopes are the atoms of the same element having different atomic masses. Therefore, according to Mendeleevs classification these should be placed at different places depending upon their atomic masses. For example, hydrogen isotopes with atomic masses 1,2 and 3 should be placed at three places. However, isotopes have not been given separate places in the periodic table because of their similar properties. (C) Anomalous pairs of elements In certain pair of elements, the increasing order of atomic masses was not obeyed. In these, Mendeleev placed elements according to similarities in their properties and not in increasing order of their atomic masses. For example : The atomic mass of argon is 39.9 and that of potassium 39.1 But argon is placed before potassium in the periodic table. Tellurium (at. mass = 127.6 ) is placed before iodine (at. mass = 126.9) (D) Some similar elements are separated, in the periodic table. For example copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg), barium (Ba) and lead (Pb). On the other hand some dissimilar elements have been placed together in the same group. (E) Cause of periodicity : Mendeleev could not explain the cause of periodicity among the elements. All the best.

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