Question

Find the incorrect statement about the Newlands’ Law of Octaves.

• A. It was applicable only upto calcium
• B. It was assumed that only 63 elements existed in nature
• C. Elements were arranged in the order of their increasing atomic masses
• D. The properties of every eighth element is a repetition of the first one

Answer 1

The correct option is B It was assumed that only 63 elements existed in nature

John Newlands arranged the elements in the order of increasing atomic masses. He found that every eighth element had properties similar to that of the first. He compared this to the octaves found in music. Therefore, he called it the ‘Law of Octaves’. The Law of Octaves was applicable only upto calcium. He assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no more elements would be discovered in the future.
Hence, the correct answer is option (b).