Abundance of the Elements

Abstract

The idea that the elements are made of the primary matter or prote hyle dates back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Robert Boyle, who lived in 17th century England, was of the same opinion. He said: “It seems not absurd to conceive that at the first production of mixed bodies, the universal matter whereof among other parts of the universe consisted, was actually divided into little particles of several sizes and shapes variously moved” (Robert Boyle, “The Sceptical Chymist,” 1661). Aristotle’s concept of prote hyle was proven to be correct more than two thousand years later by Francis W. Aston’s enunciation of the whole-number rule: the atomic weights of the elements are the multiples of the weight of a proton. Man’s curiosity over the origin and nature of the elements gave rise to two major branches of 20th century science: Geochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry.

“If, despite Mendeléeffs recent demurrer we assume that the elements have been evolved from one primordial form of matter, their relative abundance becomes suggestive.”

F.W. Clarke, Bull. Phil. Soc. Washington 11, 131 (1889)