The Periodic Table: Mapping the Elements (Exploring Science: Physical Science)

From gold to oxygen, elements are found throughout the universe. In an effort to understand the relationship between the elements, Dimitri Mendeleev plotted the elements according to each of their atomic weights. He discovered there were groups of elements that had similar properties. Analyzing the layout, he was able to correctly predict elements that had not yet been discovered. His creation—known as the periodic table—has been instrumental to advancements in the field of chemistry.