A history of the periodic table by Professor Peter Wothers

The periodic table brings order to the 118 known elements. In his lecture, Professor Peter Wothers will look at the development of the table from the time when the elements first began to be recognised, through the 1860s when several workers independently suggested their own versions, eventually leading to the current familiar form in use today. The very earliest forms of the periodic table will be on display in St Catharine’s College, to accompany the lecture. Examples include Mendeleev’s famous version from 1869, alongside what is regarded as the very first recognised periodic table from 7 years earlier.