Hydrogen and a red herring

[Rene]

I have listed below some observations about the location of hydrogen, and periodicity. Bouquets, blunders or brickbats will be gratefully acknowledged.

thank you, René

If the elements are lined up in order of Z, the result is shown below. You may need to adjust the width of the window you’re using to read this email as each row has 15 numbers.

     1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11  12  13  14  15--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->61  62  63  64  65  66  67  68  69  70  71  72  73  74  75--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->76  77  78  79  80  81  82  83  84  85  86  87  88  89  90--+

                                                                |

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->91  92  93  94  95  96  97  98  99 100 101 102 103 104 105--+

                                                                |

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+->106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118

I will now replace some of the atomic numbers with the following symbols: H for halogens: N for noble gases, and A for alkali metals:

    (H)  N   A   4   5   6   7   8   H   N   A  12  13  14  15--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->16   H   N   A  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30--+

                                                                |

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->31  32  33  34   H   N   A  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->46  47  48  49  50  51  52   H   N   A  56  57  58  59  60--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->61  62  63  64  65  66  67  68  69  70  71  72  73  74  75--+

                                                                | 

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->76  77  78  79  80  81  82  83  84   H   N   A  88  89  90--+

                                                                |

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+-->91  92  93  94  95  96  97  98  99 100 101 102 103 104 105--+

                                                                |

+---------------------------------------------------------------+

|

+->106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116   H   N

It is clear that the occurrence of halogens (H), noble gases (N), and alkali metals (A)—a HNA sequence, if you will—manifests a form of periodicity, appearing at intervals of 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, and 32 elements.

As is widely acknowledged, H is typically not classified as a halogen. Nonetheless, it shares several halogen-like properties. Moreover, when considering the continuity of physico-chemical properties down a group, the sequence starting with H and continuing with F, Cl, Br, and I exhibits far greater smoothness than the sequence of hydrogen over the alkali metals from lithium to cesium.

The fact that the first short period, consisting of just H and He, does not repeat—a variance from the subsequent patterns of 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, 32—has often been a point of contention.

However, an examination of Mendeleev’s line with its consistent periodicity of 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, 32 leads to a thought-provoking realization: any concern regarding the non-repetition of the first period may well be a red herring. Rather than a flaw, this could indicate a deeper, "hidden symmetry" within the periodic table that transcends the apparent asymmetry of conventional representations. The true value lies not in the superficial "fool’s gold" of the table’s apparent irregularities but in recognizing the profound symmetry underlying its design.

* * *

In a parallel fashion, the sequences of bases in DNA, made up of guanine (G), adenine (A), thymine (T), and cytosine (C), also exhibit a form of periodicity. Here, each set of three consecutive bases forms a “codon,” which either specifies a particular amino acid to be added during the protein assembly process or signals the termination of protein synthesis. Just as the structure of the periodic table enables the prediction of an element’s chemical behavior, the order of codons along a DNA strand dictates the assembly of proteins, which are critical to the characteristics and functions of living organisms. Thus, the genetic code’s “periodicity” is found in the sequential arrangement of codons, each trio of bases working together to create the complex tapestry of life.

Continuing the HNA/DNA analogy it’s interesting to note that hydrogen (symbol H) forms part of the first HNA sequence in Mendeleev’s line—where H stands for halogen, N for noble gas, and A for alkali metal. While H is not ordinarily regarded as a halogen it has, as noted, quite a few halogen-like properties. Indeed, its next most popular periodic table placement is at the head of the halogens, in group 17, rather than over Li in group 1. Proposals have also been made for its placement in line with Cu, Ag and Hg (Mendeleev 1869, p. 70); at the head of one or more of groups 1, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 18 (Meyer 1872, p. 301; Moran 2006); all or most main groups simultaneously (Benfey vide Seaborg 1964; Pothen 1994; Alexander 2012); or centred between the alkali metals and the halogens such that it is in no group (Kaesz & Atkins 2003). This underscores H's versatility and echoes DNA’s foundational role in biology. Just as DNA forms the foundation of life, H is the most abundant element in the universe, serving as a building block in the physical world.

[Larry T.]

What happened to 2,2 in front of 8,8? There are 2,2 subshells.

[John Marks]

Dear René,

Another arrow to the quiver of the argument "Periodicity begins at the beginning". 

This leads to H over F, He over Ne, Li over Na, Be over Mg, etc., and it preserves the triads and accords better with chemistry.

Regards,

John

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From: pt...@googlegroups.com <pt...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Rene <re...@webone.com.au>
Sent: 31 March 2024 06:38
To: Periodic table mailing list <PT...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Hydrogen and a red herring

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[johnmarks9]

There isn´t a 2,2 in chemistry . . .

[John Marks]

Yes, I agree there´s a 2,2 in physics . . .

Regards,

John

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From: Larry T. <ora...@gmail.com>
Sent: 31 March 2024 18:07
To: johnmarks9 <johnm...@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Hydrogen and a red herring

 

There is 2,2 physics...

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[Rene]

On 1 Apr 2024, at 02:23, Larry T. <ora...@gmail.com> wrote:

What happened to 2,2 in front of 8,8? There are 2,2 subshells.

On 1 Apr 2024, at 02:46, John Marks <johnm...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear René,

Another arrow to the quiver of the argument "Periodicity begins at the beginning". 

This leads to H over F, He over Ne, Li over Na, Be over Mg, etc., and it preserves the triads and accords better with chemistry.

Regards,

John

Thanks Larry and John

Larry: That's an important question.

Yes, there are 2,2 subshells and yet these do not translate into the periodicity seen in Mendeleev’s line.

So the average smoothness of 32 scorable physicochemical trendlines going down H-Li-Na-K-Rb-Cs is 52% whereas the smoothness for 30 such properties going down H-F-Cl-Br-I is 81%.

In terms of the periodic law then, the first real recurrence of periodicity after H is seen in F, eight elements later. The same goes for He and Ne.

Of course it is quite OK to note that periodic tables most commonly have period lengths of 2, 8, 8, 18, 18, 32, 32, and to wonder why the first period does not repeat. However, as Stewart (2018) noted:

The division of elements into periods is arbitrary; the Greek periodos means simply "coming around". The sequence of elements is a continuum and there are different ways—at least six published—of cutting it up into repeating sections.

So, it is somewhat neither here nor there how Mendeleev’s line is cut up since the 8-8-18-18-32-32 recurrence of periodicity among atomic numbers (which is symmetric) is always there. That is, any concern about the irregularity of period lengths effectively represents a red herring. Even so, several notable authors took the bait: 

The discovery of the noble gases at the turn of the twentieth century…suggested to Mendeleev the possible presence of six new elements between hydrogen and lithium, as he indicated in his periodic table of 1904. In one of these cases, Mendeleev was more specific; namely, he predicted a possible analogue of the halogen fluorine. He claimed that the new element would serve to restore symmetry to the table by making the number of halogens five, to coincide with the five known alkali metals…Mendeleev was mistaken about these predictions, since none of the six elements were subsequently discovered. (Scerri 2021, pp. 154–155)

Scerri, E.: The Periodic Table: its Story and its Significance, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, London

The reference to "restoring" symmetry to the periodic table is a Western view; in the East, symmetry is of no fundamental importance. Perhaps neither perspective is right since the 8-8-18-18-32-32 sequence is more or less discernible in all periodic tables or systems, although it will usually be hidden.

John: This does sort of provide an arrow for your quiver in terms of your preference for an 8-8-18-18-32-32 arrangement.

I say "sort of" since cutting Mendeleev’s line into an 8-8-18-18-32-32 arrangement messes with the horizontal  vertical and diagonal trends seen among the elements in the conventional periodic table. The same goes for Janet’s left step periodic table.

I suspect this is one of the reasons why the conventional periodic table is so popular, noting that H over Li is one of the flies in the ointment.

Stewart PJ 2018, Tetrahedral and spherical representations of the periodic system, Found Chem, vol. 20, pp. 111–120

René

[Larry T.]

Chemistry and physics should not be separated from each other. 

Chemistry deals with chemical phenomena, while physics, as manifested by spectroscopy, deals with the causes of the phenomena. Looking at fenomena only without regard to physics is hardly a scientific approach.

VT

[Rene]

On 1 Apr 2024, at 14:01, Larry T. <ora...@gmail.com> wrote:

Chemistry and physics should not be separated from each other. 

Chemistry deals with chemical phenomena, while physics, as manifested by spectroscopy, deals with the causes of the phenomena. Looking at fenomena only without regard to physics is hardly a scientific approach.

VT

Thanks Larry.

That’s an interesting perspective. I understand the emphasis on not overlooking the roles of physics when examining phenomena. However, I feel there’s a balance to be found, since diving into the physics can introduce a level of complexity that isn’t always necessary or beneficial.

Just as chemistry hasn’t been reduced to mere physics, the broad contours of chemistry itself offer a salient perspective, particularly concerning the periodic law.

Sure, physics provides the backbone for understanding why things happen at the atomic level, but chemistry delivers the 'what' and 'how' directly. It's akin to cooking: physics might explain why heating things up causes chemical changes—like why bread rises or why onions caramelise—but when you're in the kitchen, your focus is on ingredients and recipes, not physics.

So, while I respect the insights physics brings, I feel that there's significant value in focusing on the chemical narrative, especially for those of us who value the periodic table and its chemistry for its own merits.

René

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