2. The top of page 112 explains Mendeleev's view on his research in comparison with the research of others, explaining that he discovered periodic law rather than the periodic table and used the periodic law as a way to form multiple alternative tables that had various strong and weak points. Was it a good or bad thing that Mendeleev was flexible when it came to graphically interpreting the periodic law? Why is there confusion between the periodic law and the periodic table?

3. Why do you think Mendeleev wrote these priority dispute papers? What did he gain from defending the originality and accuracy of his research?

4. Is it problematic that Mendeleev uses phrases such as "universal law", "truth", and "no exceptions" while writing these disputes? Does his use of these words add to or detract from his credibility as a scientist?

5. Was the system of arrangement a chance discovery, or would it have been figured out eventually by someone else? How much longer do you believe it might have been?

6. Was Mendeleev the inventor or arranger of the Periodic table? Why?