Newlands Law Octaves - Limitations, Advantages, FAQs

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jul 02, 2025 04:37 PM IST

Early attempts at grouping components into groups based on their qualities included Dobereiner's triads and Newland's law of octaves. The broad division of elements into metals and non-metals became ineffective when many new elements were found during the 18th and 19th centuries. Several studies were carried out in order to locate and group elements having comparable qualities. It is indeed worth noting that early techniques of classifying elements, such as Newland's law of octaves and Dobereiner's triads, set the groundwork for the contemporary periodic table's growth.

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This Story also Contains

What are Dobereiner's Triads
Triad 1
Triad 4
Triad 5
Limitations of Dobereiner's Triad
Advantages of Dobereiner's Triad
Limitations of Newlands Law of Octaves
Advantages of Newlands Law of Octaves

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What are Dobereiner's Triads

Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner, a German scientist, developed Dobereiner triads, which are groups of elements with identical properties. He also noticed that triads (groups of three elements) could be constructed, with all of the components having the same physical and chemical properties.

Johann Wolfgang Dobereiner - German Chemist

According to Dobereiner's law of triads. He also proposed that this law be extended to include other quantitative qualities of elements, such as density.

Dobereiner's initial triads, discovered in 1817, consisted of the alkaline earth metals strontium, barium, and calcium. By 1829, three more triads had been recognised, and these triads are listed below:

Triad 1

The alkali metals lithium, sodium, and potassium formed this triad.

TRIAD	ATOMIC MASS
LITHIUM	6.94
SODIUM	22.9
POTASSIUM	39.1

The arithmetic mean of the masses of potassium and lithium is 23.02, which is nearly equal to atomic mass of sodium.

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Triad 2

TRIAD	ATOMIC MASS
CALCIUM	40.1
STRONTIUM	87.6
BARIUM	137.6

The arithmetic mean of the atomic masses of barium and calcium corresponds to 88.7.

Triad 3

TRIAD	ATOMIC MASS
CHLORINE	35.4
BROMINE	79.9
IODINE	126.9

The average of the atomic masses of chlorine and iodine is 81.1 which is nearly equal to that of bromine.

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Triad 4

The elements sulphur, selenium, and tellurium forms the fourth triad.

TRIAD	ATOMIC MASS
SULPHUR	32.1
SELENIUM	78.9
TELLURIUM	127.6

The average of the masses of sulphur and tellurium is 79.85 close to that of selenium.

Triad 5

The final of Dobereiner's triads was iron, cobalt, and nickel.

TRIAD	ATOMIC MASS
IRON	55.8
COBALT	58.9
NICKEL	58.7

The mean of the masses of iron and cobalt correspond to 57.3.

Limitations of Dobereiner's Triad

The following are the major flaws in Dobereiner's approach of classifying elements.

This model was rendered outdated by the discovery of additional elements.
The triads did not fit newly found elements.
Only five Dobereiner's triads were discovered.
Several well-known elements were unable to fit into any of the triads.
Other techniques of classifying elements were created as a result of these flaws.

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Advantages of Dobereiner's Triad

The known elements could not be arranged in form of triads. For very low mass or for very high mass elements, law was not holding good. Also it made chemist look at elements in terms of group of elements with similar chemical as well as physical properties.

Newlands Law of Octaves

John Newlands John Newlands

John Newlands, a British scientist, attempted the 62 elements known at the time in 1864. He organised them in ascending order based on their atomic weights and discovered that the attributes of every eighth element were the same. Newland's law of octaves was created as a result of this finding.Newland’s law of octaves - When the elements are organised in ascending order of their atomic masses, the law of octaves states that every eighth element has comparable properties.

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Below is an illustration of the elements with comparable qualities according to Newland's law of octaves.

Newland's law of octaves

Newlands contrasted the components' closeness to musical octaves, in which every eighth note is equivalent to the first. This was the first time an atomic number was assigned to each element. However, in the scientific world, this approach of classifying elements was received with a lot of opposition.

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Limitations of Newlands Law of Octaves

The following are the major flaws in Newland's law of octaves.

Newland could only organise elements up to calcium out of the entire 56 known elements.
In Newland's periodic classification, some elements were grouped together. Cobalt and nickel, for example, were placed in the same slot.
Element properties that were dissimilar were grouped together. Halogens, for example, were classified alongside metals like cobalt, nickel, and platinum.
Only up to calcium did Newland's law of octaves hold true. The atomic masses of elements with higher atomic masses could not be accommodated in octaves.
Later discovered elements could not be incorporated into the octave pattern. As a result, this system of classifying elements left no possibility for new elements to be discovered.
Noble gases were not found at the time, hence they were not included in the periodic table.

Advantages of Newlands Law of Octaves

The following are some of the benefits of Newlands' Octaves law:

This law establishes a framework for classifying elements with comparable features into groups.
All the elements were arranged in a tabular format
Newlands law of octave was the first to classify based on the atomic weight, linking the properties of the elements to their atomic masses.
For the lighter elements, this system performed much better. Lithium, sodium, and potassium, for example, were put together.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Give one example for Dobereiner's Triad?

Calcium, strontium and barium is an example for Dobereiner's triad.

2. Who proposed Newlands law of Octaves?

Newlands law of octaves was proposed by John Alexander Newlands

3. Explain with the help of an example Dobereiners triad’s?

Calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba), all of which have atomic masses of 40, 88, and 137, respectively, constitute a triad because their chemical properties are similar, and strontium's atomic mass is roughly equal to the average of calcium and barium's atomic masses.

4. What are the benefits of element classification?

It enables scientists to predict the properties of elements and their compounds based on their positions in the periodic table. It becomes easier to study, comprehend, compare, and contrast the relative properties of elements and their compounds from various groups.

5. Only up to which element does the Law of Octaves apply?

The Law of Octaves only applied up to calcium, because after then, no eighth element has qualities that are identical to the first.

6. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves relate to Döbereiner's Triads?

Both were early attempts to classify elements based on their properties and masses, with Newlands' Law building on the concept of periodicity suggested by Döbereiner's Triads.

7. What role did Newlands' Law of Octaves play in the development of the periodic table?

It was an important stepping stone, demonstrating that elements could be organized based on their properties, which influenced later work by Mendeleev and others.

8. What does Newlands' Law of Octaves teach us about the importance of simplicity in scientific models?

It shows that while simple models can be useful starting points, they often need to be refined or replaced as more data becomes available and understanding deepens.

9. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves illustrate the iterative nature of scientific discovery?

It shows how scientific understanding evolves, with early ideas like Newlands' paving the way for more refined theories, even if they are later superseded.

10. What is the historical significance of Newlands' Law of Octaves in the field of chemistry?

It represents an important step in the development of the periodic table and the understanding of elemental relationships, bridging earlier classification attempts with later, more sophisticated systems.

11. What is Newlands' Law of Octaves?

Newlands' Law of Octaves is an early attempt to organize chemical elements based on their properties. It states that when elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic mass, every eighth element has similar properties to the first one, similar to musical octaves.

12. Who proposed the Law of Octaves?

The Law of Octaves was proposed by John Alexander Reina Newlands, an English chemist, in 1865.

13. How did Newlands arrange the elements in his octave system?

Newlands arranged the elements in order of increasing atomic mass, starting with the lightest known element at that time, hydrogen.

14. What was the main advantage of Newlands' Law of Octaves?

The main advantage was that it was one of the first attempts to show a periodic relationship between elements, paving the way for more sophisticated classification systems.

15. How many elements did Newlands' original table include?

Newlands' original table included 56 known elements at that time.

16. How did Newlands' arrangement differ from previous attempts to classify elements?

Newlands' arrangement was unique in its attempt to show a regular, periodic pattern across all known elements, rather than just grouping similar elements together.

17. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves illustrate the concept of scientific precedent?

It shows how earlier scientific ideas, even if flawed, can provide important foundations for later, more accurate theories.

18. Why is Newlands' Law of Octaves considered incomplete compared to the modern periodic table?

It's incomplete because it doesn't account for electron configuration, doesn't work for all elements, and doesn't predict the existence of new elements as accurately as the modern table.

19. What aspects of modern chemistry were not considered in Newlands' Law of Octaves?

Newlands' law did not consider electron configuration, atomic number, or the existence of noble gases, all of which are crucial in modern periodic classification.

20. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves reflect the state of chemical knowledge in the mid-19th century?

It reflects the limited understanding of atomic structure and the focus on atomic mass as the primary characteristic of elements at that time.

21. Why was Newlands' Law of Octaves initially ridiculed by the scientific community?

It was initially ridiculed because it seemed overly simplistic and forced, with some elements not fitting the pattern well.

22. What is the main limitation of Newlands' Law of Octaves?

The main limitation is that it only works well for the lighter elements (up to calcium) and breaks down for heavier elements.

23. Why doesn't Newlands' Law of Octaves work for all elements?

It doesn't work for all elements because the periodic nature of element properties is more complex than a simple repetition every eight elements, especially for heavier elements with more complex electron configurations.

24. How did Newlands handle elements discovered after he proposed his law?

Newlands had difficulty incorporating newly discovered elements into his system, which was one of its major limitations.

25. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves differ from the modern periodic table?

Newlands' Law is based solely on atomic mass, while the modern periodic table is based on atomic number and electron configuration, providing a more accurate and comprehensive organization of elements.

26. What musical analogy did Newlands use to describe his law?

Newlands compared the repetition of properties in elements to musical octaves, where the eighth note is similar to the first note in a musical scale.

27. What elements did Newlands group together in his first octave?

Newlands' first octave grouped together hydrogen, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

28. What is the significance of the number "8" in Newlands' Law of Octaves?

The number 8 represents the periodicity Newlands observed, where he claimed every eighth element had similar properties to the first in a series.

29. What was the reception of Newlands' Law of Octaves by the Royal Society?

The Royal Society initially rejected Newlands' work, with some members even jokingly asking if he had tried arranging the elements alphabetically.

30. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves contribute to the concept of periodicity in chemistry?

It introduced the idea that element properties might repeat in a regular pattern, which was crucial for developing the concept of periodicity in the modern periodic table.

31. What elements caused problems for Newlands' octave system?

Heavier elements and noble gases (which were not yet discovered) didn't fit well into Newlands' system, causing inconsistencies.

32. How did Newlands handle elements with similar properties that didn't fall eight places apart?

Newlands sometimes forced elements into his system even when they didn't fit perfectly, which was one of the criticisms of his approach.

33. What is the relationship between Newlands' Law of Octaves and Mendeleev's Periodic Table?

Newlands' Law was a precursor to Mendeleev's work, demonstrating the concept of periodicity that Mendeleev later refined and expanded upon.

34. How did Newlands' background in music influence his Law of Octaves?

Newlands' musical background likely inspired him to draw the analogy between chemical periodicity and musical octaves, leading to the name "Law of Octaves."

35. What assumptions did Newlands make in formulating his Law of Octaves?

Newlands assumed that element properties would repeat in a simple, regular pattern based solely on atomic mass, which turned out to be an oversimplification.

36. What elements did Newlands correctly group together despite the limitations of his system?

Newlands correctly grouped some alkali metals, halogens, and some transition metals, showing partial success in identifying chemical families.

37. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves influence the search for new elements?

While less influential than Mendeleev's later work, Newlands' Law suggested that there might be undiscovered elements that would fit into the periodic pattern.

38. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves demonstrate the importance of pattern recognition in science?

It shows how identifying patterns, even if imperfect, can lead to important scientific insights and drive further research and refinement of ideas.

39. What criticisms did Newlands face for his Law of Octaves?

Newlands was criticized for forcing elements to fit his system, for the law's failure with heavier elements, and for its overly simplistic nature.

40. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves contribute to the concept of atomic structure?

While not directly addressing atomic structure, it suggested that element properties were related to some fundamental aspect of atoms, later identified as electron configuration.

41. What is the difference between Newlands' "octaves" and the modern concept of periods in the periodic table?

Newlands' octaves were based on a simple repetition every eight elements, while modern periods are based on electron shell filling and vary in length.

42. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves illustrate the concept of periodicity in element properties?

It shows that certain properties of elements repeat in a regular pattern, which is the fundamental concept of periodicity, even though the actual pattern is more complex than Newlands proposed.

43. What role did atomic mass play in Newlands' Law of Octaves?

Atomic mass was the primary organizing principle in Newlands' system, with elements arranged in order of increasing atomic mass.

44. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves handle the issue of isotopes?

Newlands' work predated the discovery of isotopes, so his law did not account for elements with multiple isotopes, which can affect average atomic mass.

45. What is the significance of Newlands' use of the term "law" in the Law of Octaves?

Newlands' use of "law" suggests he believed he had discovered a fundamental principle of nature, although it was later shown to be an oversimplification.

46. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves contribute to the understanding of element families?

It helped reinforce the idea that certain groups of elements shared similar properties, even if the groupings were not always accurate.

47. How did Newlands' background as an industrial chemist influence his approach to element classification?

His practical experience likely influenced his focus on observable properties and patterns, rather than theoretical atomic structure.

48. What elements, if any, fit perfectly into Newlands' octave system?

The lightest elements, particularly those up to calcium, fit reasonably well into Newlands' system, but even these had some inconsistencies.

49. What similarities exist between Newlands' Law of Octaves and Mendeleev's early work on the periodic table?

Both attempted to organize elements based on atomic mass and repeating properties, though Mendeleev's system was more flexible and accurate.

50. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves contribute to the understanding of valency in elements?

While not directly addressing valency, it reinforced the idea that elements with similar properties might have similar combining powers, which is related to valency.

51. What does the initial rejection of Newlands' Law of Octaves teach us about the scientific process?

It shows that new ideas in science often face skepticism and require substantial evidence and refinement before gaining acceptance.

52. How did Newlands' Law of Octaves influence later work on element classification?

It encouraged other scientists to look for patterns in element properties, ultimately leading to more sophisticated classification systems.

53. What aspects of Newlands' Law of Octaves are still relevant in modern chemistry education?

It serves as a historical example of the development of the periodic table and illustrates the concept of periodicity in a simple, though limited, way.

54. How does Newlands' Law of Octaves demonstrate the importance of pattern recognition in scientific discovery?

It shows how identifying patterns in data, even if imperfect, can lead to new insights and drive further research in science.

55. What lessons can modern chemists learn from the story of Newlands' Law of Octaves?

It teaches the importance of persistence in scientific work, the value of seeking patterns in data, and the need for openness to revising theories as new evidence emerges.