Abstract

The article begins by asking whether contemporary chemists accept the dual meaning of the term “element” that has been discussed at various stages in the development of chemistry. It proceeds to review the key ideas in the contemporary philosophical debate, including the views of Mendeleev and Paneth and whether a microscopic interpretation of the distinction can be upheld. Regardless of any interpretation, the abstract sense of “element” is then used to resolve the specific question of what elements belong to group 3 of the periodic table. The article concludes with a brief examination of several remaining open questions that need further clarification.