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‘When two experts in chemistry are discussing elements, they are able to distinguish the meaning from the context, but this is not so in the classroom,’ she says. Likewise if I say ‘Sulfur is the second element in group 16 of the periodic table.’ But these are two rather different things.Īccording to theoretical chemist Eugen Schwarz of the University of Siegen in Germany, the typical attitude is to say ‘I know how I speak about elements isn’t really correct, but everyone does it, and students will figure it out in the end.’ But ‘my personal feeling as a chemist is that one should not adopt this habit’, he adds.Įlena Ghibaudi of the University of Turin in Italy worries that this failure to define an element precisely raises problems of understanding, communication and trust in teaching. If I say ‘Sulfur is an element that forms a yellow solid with a pungent smell,’ I don’t expect objections. Some might say: who cares? We know what we mean in practice. We agree (right?) that hydrogen is an element – but what do we mean by that? Is molecular hydrogen gas an element? Or the isolated hydrogen atom? Or are we referring not to some actual substance but to a ‘transcendental’ notion of hydrogen of which actual atoms and molecules are just material representatives?
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The meaning of an ‘element’ is a favourite topic for argument among off-duty chemists. It seems reasonable to expect chemistry to provide an unambiguous definition ‘There’s a need for philosophical reflection on aspects of chemistry that we tend to teach in a rather mechanical way,’ says Eric Scerri of the University of California Los Angeles in the US, editor of the philosophy of science journal Foundations of Chemistry. It’s not just the definition of an element concepts such as molecules, bonds, and even the character of the periodic table itself, remain fuzzy: deceptively familiar from regular use by practitioners, but lacking any meaning that everyone agrees on. ‘Chemistry does not understand itself as a discipline,’ says philosopher Farzad Mahootian of New York University in the US. And some of the participants of the meeting implied that this might be for the best.įor others, it’s an indication that chemistry has some serious philosophical thinking to do. Some of chemistry’s finest minds, including Antoine Lavoisier, Mendeleev himself, and pioneer of nuclear chemistry Frederick Soddy, have grappled with it, yet still a concise and comprehensive definition remains elusive. The question was debated with much vigour and occasional passion during a meeting of the International Society for the Philosophy of Chemistry in Bristol in July 2018 – but still without producing any consensus. And yet no one can say quite what an element is. It’s one of the first ideas that the chemistry student encounters, often in the iconic tabulation of these basic ingredients of nature that Dmitri Mendeleev first described 150 years ago and which is being celebrated this year. Send us feedback.As chemical concepts go, you don’t get much more fundamental than the element. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'element.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Mary Elizabeth Andriotis, House Beautiful, 27 Apr. Washington Post, In fact, House Beautiful has featured plenty examples of this timeless design element over the years, as seen in articles about the modern farmhouse aesthetic, modern farmhouse kitchens, and modern farmhouse decor. Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, What intrigued you about taking Hollywood stars out of their element and putting them on a safari?ĭenise Davidsonwriter, San Diego Union-Tribune, Similarly, for induction cooktops, which are the most energy efficient option, make sure to align the size of your pan with the size of the heating element on the stove to not overuse electricity when cooking or prolong the heating process. Mihalek, ABC News, Don't put plastic items on the bottom rack as the high temperature of the heating element can leave them warped. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 5 June 2022 The personnel implicated in Seoul were reported to be part of this element.īydonald J. Gordon Hamersley,, 14 June 2022 The Guardians may have been out of their element, but the bullpen wasn’t. Recent Examples on the Web The concept of a digital twin is to create a virtual replica of a real-world element whether that be a warehouse, a physical product, a factory floor etc.īetsy Atkins, Forbes, 16 June 2022 The way to get the best of the dish is to pile a fork with a bite of every element and let those flavors loose on your palate.