Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev
- Born:
- February 8, 1834 (January 27, 1834, Old Style), Verkhnie Aremzyani, Tobolsk Governorate, Russian Empire
- Died:
- February 2, 1907 (January 20, 1907, Old Style), Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
- Nationality:
- Russian
- Profession(s):
- Chemist, Physicist, Professor
Early Life and Education
- Born into a large family; his father was a teacher.
- Attended the Main Pedagogical Institute in Saint Petersburg.
- Graduated with honors in 1855 and worked as a science teacher.
- Continued his studies in Western Europe during the late 1850s.
Career and Major Achievements
- Professor of Chemistry at the Saint Petersburg Technological Institute (1864-1867).
- Professor of General Chemistry at Saint Petersburg State University (1867-1890).
- Developed the periodic table of elements, organizing elements by atomic weight and chemical properties.
- Predicted the existence and properties of several undiscovered elements (e.g., gallium, germanium, scandium).
- Made significant contributions to the understanding of solutions.
- His work on propellant smokeless powder was crucial for Russian industrial development.
Notable Works
- "Principles of Chemistry" (Osnovy khimii) – a widely used chemistry textbook that first described the periodic table.
- Researched the properties of gases and liquids.
Legacy and Impact
Dmitri Mendeleev is primarily remembered as the creator of the periodic table, a fundamental tool in chemistry. His periodic law organized known elements and predicted the existence of new ones, revolutionizing the field. Various resources, including 'dmitri mendeleev biography summary graphic organizers', are used today to teach students about his pivotal contributions.