Dmitri Mendeleev

chemistry · scientist · periodic table · prediction

Organized all elements. Mendeleev noticed patterns in how elements behave and arranged them in a table by their weight and properties. This became the periodic table we still use today.

Predicted the future. Mendeleev left gaps in his table for elements he believed hadn't been discovered yet, and he even predicted what their properties would be. Years later, scientists found these missing elements and they matched his predictions almost perfectly.

Fixed old mistakes. Scientists before Mendeleev had gotten some element properties wrong. Using his table, Mendeleev corrected their mistakes and showed his system was better than anything before.

Honored forever. Scientists were so impressed with Mendeleev's work that they named a synthetic element 'mendelevium' after him, making him one of the few people to have an element named in their honor.