What were the limitations of Newland’s law of octaves?

Limitations of Newland’s law of octaves are listed as below:

(i) This law was applicable only for lighter elements. It did not hold true for the classification of elements after calcium. After calcium, not every eighth element had properties similar to the first element.


(ii) He thought that only 56 elements existed in nature and that no more would ever be discovered. However, later many new elements were discovered and their properties did not fit into Newland’s law of octaves.


He put two elements in one slot even in the column of unlike elements having different properties. For example, he put cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) in a single slot with elements like fluorine, chlorine and bromine with which their properties do not match at all.


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