Mendeleev’s periodic table, although groundbreaking, faced some criticism and rejection during its time. One of the main reasons was that his table was based on the idea of atomic weight, which was not universally accepted or accurately measured at that time. As a result, some elements were placed in positions that did not align with their chemical properties.
Additionally, there were gaps in his table where Mendeleev predicted the existence of yet-to-be-discovered elements, like gallium and germanium. While this intuitive leap was later proven correct, skeptics of the time questioned the validity of a table that relied on predicted elements. Some scientists preferred more empirical approaches rather than speculative predictions.
Furthermore, the advent of new discoveries and advanced techniques in studying atomic structure soon illuminated the limitations of the table based solely on atomic weight. The later development of the modern periodic table, which arranged elements by atomic number rather than atomic weight, ultimately provided a more accurate and reliable representation of element relationships.
Despite these initial rejections, Mendeleev’s work laid a significant foundation for future chemists, and his table is now recognized as a pivotal moment in the history of chemistry.