Abstract
According to D. I. Mendeleev’s self-examination, four subjects, more than others, have made his name: Periodic Law, studying physics of gases at low pressure (the gas state equation), the concept of solution as a composition of molecular associates and “The Principles of Chemistry”. In fact, Mendeleev’s scientific interests and his creative activity, besides pure chemistry, stretched over such distant fields as industry (17% of his publications are related to this area), economics (14%), metrology (11%), aeronautics (9%) and agriculture (7%). The Periodic Law seems to constitute only a fragment of his heritage, yet we cannot recount the history of chemistry without admiring the author of the discovery. The life and science of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev is reviewed in short in this paper.
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The bad physical condition of students was worsened by shortage of proteins. Dobrolyubov described his day in MPI as follows: «A piercing bell ring comes at 6, and I got up. After clothing myself and washing, I go to the room and turn to (preparing to classes—Authors) up to eight thirty. At this time, there is a new ring, and we all go to the breakfast. An ordinary loaf and a cup of milk, raw or boiled, are given for breakfast … At 12 they bring a tin dish filled with pieces of black bread. < …>. The lunch is at three o’clock …, and we have tee (own, not on the house) at 6. There is dinner of two dishes at 8 ½. We go to bed at 10 …». The lunch included « cabbage or simple soup, then a certain sauce from potatoes, Russian turnip, carrot, cabbage; sometimes, instead of this, some macaroni, frankfurters. Finally, there are always pies or cheesecakes …».
A silicate mineral.
Specific volume characterized the average distance between particles in a body according to the ideas of that time.
Georg Ludwig Carius (1829–1875) was a German chemist. He studied under Friedrich Wöhler and was assistant to Robert Bunsen for 6 years. He was Director of the Marburger Chemical Institute (Marburger Chemischen Instituts) of Philipps University of Marburg from 1865—Authors.
The studies of liquid expansion and surface tension dependence of temperature (1860th) led him to an empirical law-fitting experimental data.
«At a University act… Kogan-Bernshtein (a University student—Authors) tried to slap Minister Saburov. At the nearest lecture, spoke about dirtiness of this and that “Kogans are not kokhans for us”» (“kokhan” in Ukrainian is “favorite”—Authors). The response to Mendeleev’s words was as it should be in the split Russian society: somebody applauded and others hissed.
Interestingly, what would be Mendeleev’s reaction if somebody, even from the number of «jury economists», claimed that, while solving physicochemical problems, it was useful and even necessary to hear not only the voices of professional chemists, but also any different ones? However, let us not judge severely. Concerning economic problems, Mendeleev acted firmly but carefully, studied a lot of economic papers, collected large statistical material, visited many economically important regions and, in addition, actively used his natural scientific and technological knowledge.
Mendeleev and Tolstoy were not personally acquainted, although the possibility for their meeting occurred several times. For example, in the summer of 1887, Mendeleev, before his balloon flight, visited the estate of Count А. V. Оlsufyev. He wanted to introduce the scientist to Tolstoy, but Mendeleev declined the proposal.
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Paper presented at the symposium ‘‘Dmitry Mendeleev: 140 Years from the Presentation of the Periodic System” (Rome, 28 May 2009).
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Dmitriev, I.S., Sarkisov, P.D. & Moiseev, I.I. Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev: scientist, citizen and personality. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 21, 111–130 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-010-0074-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-010-0074-4