Scerri, Eric (2025) What is an element? [Preprint]

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Abstract

The current dual definition of the chemical term "element" in IUPAC's Gold Book is ambiguous, misleading, and even contradicts itself. More importantly perhaps, the abstract sense of the term element, which was championed by Mendeleev and later by Paneth, appears to have been completely erased. The present article makes a case for reintroducing the abstract sense of element.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Scerri, Eric scerri@chem.ucla.edu 0000-0001-9775-5829
Keywords:	element, Mendeleev, Paneth
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Chemistry General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Natural Kinds
Depositing User:	Eric Scerri
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2026 12:07
Last Modified:	07 Jan 2026 12:07
Item ID:	27793
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics Specific Sciences > Chemistry General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Natural Kinds
Date:	2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27793

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