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  4. Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
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Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?

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Offline Richard777 (OP)

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Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« on: 18/12/2018 19:18:14 »
The Janet Periodic Table (aka Left Step Periodic Table) can be re-arranged as a series of square matrices. Square matrices are prominent in theoretical physics.

The location of any element within the table is determined by the quantum numbers of the "most significant electron". The orbitals (s,p,d,f) form concentric rings within a matrix.

If the matrices are stacked vertically the result appears as a stepped pyramid. This is a three dimensional table. Sections cut through the pyramid give interesting "vertical relationships" between elements.
* Reference.pdf (191.83 kB - downloaded 110 times.)
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Offline Bored chemist

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #1 on: 18/12/2018 19:27:55 »
The periodic table can be arranged as a novelty song.

How you choose to arrange it depends on what you wish to do with it.
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Offline alancalverd

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #2 on: 18/12/2018 20:58:01 »
It would be amusing to play the tune without the words, and see if an audience of chemists could sing the song as the panels light up. I've sung it enough times, but even though I have a periodic table shower curtain (I test my anorak every morning), I don't think I could place the elements on a blank canvas.

The problem with the stacked matrix representation, as with many of Mendeleev's early attempts at categorisation of the elements, is that it isn't easily predictive of chemical or physical behavior. The power of the conventional layout is (was) in predicting the properties of hitherto undiscovered elements.
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Offline Bored chemist

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #3 on: 18/12/2018 21:58:06 »
I could fill in a blank copy of the periodic table- at least as far as Uranium. It was a standard question when I was a student. I was surprised that some students thought it was difficult
I can't remember the words to the song.
That gives you a clue as to which of the versions is useful from my perspective.
Other people have a different set of priorities.
I doubt  he knows the conventional version.

Now the million dollar question.
What use would it be to plot it as a pyramid?
« Last Edit: 18/12/2018 22:00:18 by Bored chemist »
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Offline Kryptid

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #4 on: 19/12/2018 04:54:38 »
Quote from: Bored chemist on 18/12/2018 21:58:06
I could fill in a blank copy of the periodic table- at least as far as Uranium. It was a standard question when I was a student. I was surprised that some students thought it was difficult

I could recite all 118 of the known chemical elements in order from memory a few years ago. For a time, at least. Now that I don't practice that any longer, I've forgotten the correct order of some of them (the lanthanides always gave me trouble).
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Offline Bored chemist

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #5 on: 19/12/2018 10:02:04 »
I went to university sufficiently long ago that this
"late college parties never persuade Samantha's European girls to dispense hospitality, even though you linger"
was considered socially acceptable as a mnemonic.
I wonder if there are any new ones
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Offline evan_au

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #6 on: 19/12/2018 19:42:43 »
Quote
Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
While the Periodic Table could be arranged as a stepped pyramid, there is no evidence that the Ancient Egyptians, or the less-ancient Javanese had a concept of a periodic table.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Step_pyramid
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Offline Tomassci

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #7 on: 30/01/2019 07:35:06 »
Quote
While the Periodic Table could be arranged as a stepped pyramid, there is no evidence that the Ancient Egyptians, or the less-ancient Javanese had a concept of a periodic table.

Well, not bad assuming they didn't even know that there's some oxygen passing by...
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Offline Richard777 (OP)

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #8 on: 21/06/2019 14:00:10 »
This model assumes that "quantum numbers" are associated with the "most significant electron".
Could it be that the quantum numbers are actually associated with the "most significant proton"?
* Reference.pdf (192.75 kB - downloaded 56 times.)
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Offline Bored chemist

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Re: Can the Periodic Table be arranged as a stepped pyramid?
« Reply #9 on: 21/06/2019 18:06:50 »
Quote from: Richard777 on 21/06/2019 14:00:10
This model assumes that "quantum numbers" are associated with the "most significant electron".
No, it doesn't.
It's a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics that "you can't paint an electron purple".
There is no most (or least)  significant electron, because they are all equivalent.

So, the periodic table doesn't assume what you claim.
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