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The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is all set to celebrate 2019 as the year of the Periodic Table of elements, the single most important organizational tool in chemistry. While the central role of the Table in chemistry is undisputed, the debate on placement of elements in its various blocks has not settled even after 150 years. Though there is general agreement about the four blocks of the Table, there are many points to debate. The first element itself had options. The logic of keeping hydrogen simultaneously above Li and F is easy to understand. So was the debate to keep He above Be, and, also above Ne. IUPAC adopted to keep H above Li and He above Ne. The philosophical implications of the evolutionary changes in the Periodic Table have been discussed in detail by many, Eric Scerri prime among them.
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