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Mendeleev Podcast

Dmitri Mendeleev, a determined and eccentric scientist from Siberia, overcame immense poverty and family struggles to become one of history’s greatest chemists. His mother sacrificed everything to ensure his education, which eventually led him to St. Petersburg, where he pursued his passion for science. Known for his quick temper and relentless drive, Mendeleev focused on understanding the relationships between the 63 known elements.

Your Name:

Listened to the podcast, and answer these questions:

1. What was the name of the scientist who organised the 63 known elements into a table?

2. Why did Mendeleev’s mother move the family to St. Petersburg?

3. If you were Mendeleev, how would you have tried to organise the elements?

4. Compare Mendeleev’s approach to organising the elements with how he played the card game “patience.” What similarities do you notice?

5. Do you think Mendeleev’s prediction of undiscovered elements was a bold move or a risky one? Why?

6. Imagine you are Mendeleev. Write a diary entry describing your dream and how it helped you solve the problem of organising the elements.

7. How many elements were known during Mendeleev’s time, and what did he write on each of his cards?

8. Summarise the challenges Mendeleev faced in organising the elements before his breakthrough.

9. How do you think Mendeleev’s determination and stubbornness helped him succeed? Can you think of a time when being stubborn helped you achieve something?

10. Look at the groups of elements Mendeleev identified (e.g., alkali metals, halogens). What patterns or similarities do you notice within each group?