New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-03

Professor Dmltri Mendeleef1 the greatest
chemist in Russia. and had few COmpeers else
where. He was born I'm Tobolsk Siberia in 1884
and. after attending the gymnasium in that city,
went to St. Petersburg, where in 1885. no was
graduated in chemistry at the university, He re-
NAMED there a privat-docent until 1859, when
he went 10 Paris where he studied under Wurtz,
and to Heidelberg. where he started a laboratory
Of his He also Investigated the properties OF
petroleum In the Caucasus and in Pennsylvania.
lie returned to St Petersburg in 1861. and two
later made professor Of chemistry IN
the archaeological Institute. In 1868 he trans
fsrred 10 the same chair IN the university. which
he occupied until his death
Professor MendeIeeff's Held Of original research
was very wide In addition 70 being distin-
gushed chemist, he was noted a Geologist. edu-
cauonalst and philosopher From the beginning
he interested in theoretical problems. in the
solution Of which he. at times. arrived al very
practical results. His first paper was on isomor-
phlsm. and for years he worked the relations
between specific volumes and other properties. HIS
great discovery OF the Periodic Law. with which
HIS name IS most widely associated, seems q natu-
not the fret To take M the suh1ect-[opp notably
working on similar lues-but inc was the hrst 10
arrive ~ any great generalization from such in
In ise, MeudefeT announced that # the clements
he arranged IN the order or their atomic weights, 1t
VIII be- found that similar variations f. their chem
igal properties repeat i9em5sFeS PeJioale3l% ana
combine with other clements also corresponds with
Like many another important rueralIZatol, the
real siEuit"Hrr" uf this one rs not self svident-
Before ule periodic law was formulate me atomic
weights OF tho elements We're purely empirical mum
hers. and r. not always easy 10 tell what null
tple of a given value should re taken tHe true
atomic weight This changed by M-udoieen
discovery. The periodic law made it possible 20
and bcryllum. FOR Instance. Mendeieen went FUR
Their than this He pointed ont that there were
gaps IN the table; that these must correspond to
unknown elements. and that the properties % tines"
unknown elements could he predicted from those
OF the known elements surrounding tho gaps IN
the table. Gdllulu, scaUdirm and germaDium have
since been discovered and have the properties
signed 10 them In advance 10y Me0deten
A striking. though less dramatic proof ~
the souudness OF Ncudclter'F generalization * 10
be found I'm I'm" fact ti't the Inert gases ol the
utmosplere. argou. heigW, neon. etc, find places
IN she classification. though the possibility 81 there
being such substances was not suspected i'm 1859
oxford AOuoted him With doctorut.. p" was
prominent member ~ the Academy OF Sciences II
'rHcow, ana was affiliated with many other learned
societies. Ei- Principles Of Chemistry. published
iu 1870 translated into many languages and
he frequent contributor 10 scientific pnriodi-
Gals lie Was the author OF several papers ON nitro
celulose compounds as basis for sm keless gum
powder. some or which wcr" translated into Eng
lsh by Commando j. Eernadou, a. s n. and
published in tho Proceedings of the Naval In
stitUts.''