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Types of periodic tables
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<p>Since <a href="/facts/Dimitri_Mendeleev/xdouRrx8">Dimitri Mendeleev</a> formulated the <a href="/facts/Periodic_law/dI0mkSju">periodic law</a> in 1871, and published an associated <a href="/facts/Periodic_table_of_chemical_elements/umdGIfUb">periodic table of chemical elements</a>, authors have experimented with varying types of periodic tables including for teaching, aesthetic or philosophical purposes. </p><p>Earlier, in 1869, Mendeleev had mentioned different layouts including short, medium, and even cubic forms. It appeared to him that the latter (three-dimensional) form would be the most natural approach but that "attempts at such a construction have not led to any real results". On spiral periodic tables, "Mendeleev...steadfastly refused to depict the system as [such]...His objection was that he could not express this function mathematically." </p>