(a) Why do we classify elements?
(b) What were the two criteria used by Mendeleev to classify the elements in his periodic table?
(c) Why did Mendeleev leave some gaps in his periodic table?
(d) In Mendeleev’s periodic table, why was there no mention of noble gases like helium, neon and argon?
(e) Would you place the two isotopes of chlorine, Cl-35 and Cl-37 in different slots because of their different atomic masses or in the same slot because their chemical properties are the same? Justify your answer.


(a) Due to the discovery of different elements, it was difficult to organize the information and properties of the elements, hence, there was a need to find some pattern in the properties of different elements so that they can be grouped together. This is why we classify elements.

(b) The two criteria used by Mendeleev to classify the elements in his periodic table are given below:

  1. Increasing atomic masses.
  2. Grouping together of elements having similar properties.

(c) In order to make sure that the elements having similar properties fell in the same vertical column or group, Mendeleev left some gaps in his periodic table.

(d) The noble gases were not discovered at that time so there was no mention of noble gases like helium, neon, and argon in Mendeleev’s periodic table.

(e) The two isotopes of chlorine, Cl-35 and Cl-37 in different slots because their chemical properties are the same. The two isotopes of chlorine have same atomic number and chemical properties depend on the atomic number.

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Updated on: 10-Oct-2022

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