Abstract

After briefly reviewing the meaning and recent literature on structural realism in general, the authors propose that the periodic system provides an example of structural realism in chemistry, a subject that has received very little attention. The dual meaning of the term element is discussed, as previously described by Mendeleev and Paneth. It is argued that the structure of the periodic system, which concerns the abstract elements, is ‘more real’ than the elements in the sense of simple substances. The challenges that the periodic system has faced since its discovery are reviewed, as are the evolving theoretical explanations for the periodic system, in order to illustrate its resilience. It is also proposed that considering elements as abstract basic substances, as they were called by Paneth, can serve to settle various ongoing debates regarding the placement of certain elements in the periodic table.