Question

What are the drawbacks of Newland’s law of octaves?

• A. Some elements were placed in same slot.
• B. His law was only applicable for elements till calcium.
• C. He did not justify the position of hydrogen.
• D. Some similar elements were placed farther apart.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C), (D)

Some similar elements were placed farther apart.

Newland's law of octaves was one among the very first model to identify a periodic pattern in the properties of elements. He found that every eighth element had properties similar to those of the first.
The drawbacks of Newland's law of octaves are -

• This law was found to be applicable only till calcium. It was not applicable to elements of higher atomic masses.
• The position of hydrogen along with fluorine and chlorine was not justified on the basis of chemical properties.
• He placed cobalt and nickel in the same slot as that of fluorine, chlorine and bromine to fit elements in the table despite having dissimilar properties.
• He placed some unlike elements under the same slot. Iron which has resemblances in its properties with cobalt and nickel has been placed far away from these elements.