Chemical Education Today
Letters Periodic Patterns In his recent article on periodic patterns (J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 1053–1056), Geoff Rayner-Canham refers to my modification of the long form of the periodic table (J. Chem. Educ. 1989, 66, 746). Below is a copy, which shows simultaneously the diagonal relationship, Be–Al–Ti; the links between Mg and Zn, and between Al and Sc; the Knight’s Move from Ag to Tl; the prediction of the properties of element 114 (eka-lead) from the properties of Hg; that U should have a stable oxidation state of +6 (under W); that element 61, Pm, can be expected to be radioactive, being under element 43, Tc; and the similarity of structures of compounds of P and V, S and Cr, and Cl and Mn, as is emphasized by Geoff Rayner-Canham.
No other current layout of the periodic table shows all of this information so simply. I was very pleased to see it referred to. Michael Laing School of Pure and Applied Chemistry University of Natal, Private Bag X10 Dalbridge, Durban 4014, South Africa
[email protected] JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 7 July 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education
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