A Well-ordered Thing: Dmitrii Mendeleev And The Shadow Of The Periodic Table
An academic biography, Michael D. Gordin'sA Well-Ordered Thingtells Dmitri Mendeleev's story in dense prose, detailed with Russian  history and molecular chemistry. Mendeleev will forever be remembered as  the inventor of the periodic table of the elements, which sorts  hydrogen, helium, lithium, and so on, according to their weights and  properties. Readers unfamiliar with either the periodic table or the  politics of Imperial Russia will have a tough go of it. Nevertheless,  Gordin's treatment reveals surprising facts about the enigmatic  Mendeleev and his social context.The periodic system was developed in Russia by an individual  who was ... trying to bring order to a Russian society that was  apparently disintegrating.... In order to understand the building of  this part of modern chemistry, one must come to terms with the attempts  to create a modern Russia.Far from a stereotypically isolated scientist surrounded by bubbling  beakers and cryptic lore, the "ambitious and energetic" Mendeleev was a  very public figure. He involved himself eagerly in the social problems  of the day and participated actively in trying to shape a new society.  His pursuits included hot-air balloons, art criticism, debunking  Spiritualists, and perfecting systems of every kind. When he hit on the  idea of periodicity in the elements, he published his table first in a  chemistry textbook, later submitting papers to other scientists once his  confidence allowed him to make predictions of elements yet to be  discovered. Gordin paints Mendeleev as a consummate Imperial who was  shocked by the revolution that toppled the Tsar. This complex civil  servant and brilliant scientist deserves wider appreciation, andA  Well-Ordered Thingprovides a rich context for examination of  Mendeleev's life.--Therese Littleton