Question

what were the limitations of newlands law of octaves??

Answer 1

Newlands assumed that only 56 elements existed in nature and no more elements would be further discovered in the nearer future. But later on several new elements were discovered, whose properties couldn’t be defined as per the Law of Octaves.

In order to fit elements into law of octaves Newlands not only adjusted two elements

in the same slot but also adjusted some unlike elements under the same note.

Cobalt and nickel are in the same slot and are positioned in the same column with fluorine, chlorine and bromine possessing different properties than these elements.

Iron possessing similar properties as cobalt and nickel, is placed far away from these elements

Thus, Newlands’ Law of Octaves can be obeyed well by the lighter elements only.