IYPT2019: An ode to the Periodic Table

The world will witness a year-long initiative to raise awareness of chemistry and its application in sustainable development in 2019. The Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is one of the most significant achievements in the field of science. It not only has its application in chemistry but also in the field of biology and physics.

In 1869, Russian scientist, Dmitri Mendeleev discovered the Periodic System. The International Year of the Periodic Table 2019 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the periodic table.

Watch why Mendeleev's' discovery is considered extraordinary:

The periodic table is something that every science student recognises. It has all 118 chemical elements arranged in an organised manner by considering the atomic number, electronic configuration and other chemical properties.

The table has seven rows referred to as periods which have all the metals arranged on the left and the non-metals on the right. The columns are called groups which have elements that exhibit similar chemical behaviour.

The IYPT 2019 was launched on 29 January, at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. It covered conferences and debates highlighting the importance of the Periodic Table. It also addressed the challenges faced in developing a sustainable society across various fields such as health, food security and energy.

The UNESCO is also organising an online competition to test high school students' knowledge of the periodic table. Scientific experiments will be held at schools around the globe with an intention of familiarising students with the periodic table.

Here are some organizations who share their passion for science, live science demonstrations and animated lectures:

In addition, on July 28, 2019, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The IUPAC is a globally recognised authority for nomenclature and terminology. The theme of the 100th-anniversary celebration will be 'A Common Language for Chemistry'. Its main purpose is to look into the future where chemists from across the world will closely work together.

Individuals can view and share activities about this event on social media platforms with #IYPT2019.