Question

What is the Lothar Meyer curve and how does it establish the idea of periodicity of elements?

Answer 1

Step 1: Lothar Meyer curve:

• Lothar Meyer drew the graph between atomic volume and atomic weight of the elements, obtaining various curves.

Step 2: His idea for periodicity of elements:

• Lothar Meyer was the first scientist to notice the periodic trends in periodic properties.
• He observed that the element with the same physical and chemical properties occupy the same positions on the curve.
• This idea helps to arrange the elements with similar properties as the same group in the table.
• In a period, the curve showed a gradual increase and then decreased in the atomic mass of the elements.