The Study and Laboratory of
Dmitri MendeleevSt. Petersburg State University
St. Petersburg, Russia
David A. KatzChemist, Educator, and Consultant
5003 Canby Dr * Wilmington, DE 19808‐1102 * USA
voice: (302) 509‐3282email: [email protected]
Mendeleev’s studyPreserved as it was during Mendeleev’s lifetime
Mendeleev’s Laboratory Instruments
• Although his laboratory instruments are not all identifiable they appear to be constructed for the study of gases.
• In late 1871, Mendeleev had turned his attention to studying of behavior of permanent gases at low pressure.
• He hoped to find the universal ether which would have been responsible both for electrical and magnetic interactions and for chemical affinity.
• Mendeleev believed that ether is an extraordinarily thin gas that should occupy the place above hydrogen in his Periodic Table.
• Mendeleev had a special balance constructed capable of measuring masses of gases to 1/15 mg.
• Although he never discovered the ether, he discovered a number of deviations of gases from the Boyle’s Law.
Pictures and Paintings
Mendeleev would have his distinguished visitors sign his tablecloth