Describe how Mendeleev convinced the scientific community that his way of organising the elements into a periodic table was correct.

Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, convinced the scientific community that his way of organizing the elements into a periodic table was correct through several steps:

1. Prediction of New Elements: Mendeleev left gaps in his periodic table for elements that had not yet been discovered. He even predicted the properties of these undiscovered elements based on their position in the table. When these elements (Gallium, Scandium, and Germanium) were discovered and their properties matched Mendeleev's predictions, it provided strong evidence for the validity of his table.

2. Arrangement by Atomic Weight and Properties: Mendeleev arranged elements in order of increasing atomic weight, but he also took into account the properties of the elements. When he noticed that arranging by atomic weight caused some elements to be placed in groups with others that had dissimilar properties, he wasn't afraid to switch them around. This showed that his table was not just based on one criterion, but on a combination of atomic weight and properties, which made it more accurate.

3. Grouping of Elements: In Mendeleev's table, elements with similar properties were grouped together. This made it easier to study and understand the elements, and it also showed clear patterns and trends, which further validated his table.

4. Continuous Revision: Mendeleev continuously revised his table as new elements were discovered or as atomic weights were more accurately determined. This showed his commitment to accuracy and his belief in the table as a dynamic tool for understanding the elements, not a static, unchangeable fact.

5. Presentation and Defense: Mendeleev presented his periodic table to the Russian Chemical Society in 1869, and he defended it vigorously against critics. His confidence in his table, along with the evidence he provided, helped convince others of its validity.

Through these steps, Mendeleev was able to convince the scientific community that his way of organizing the elements into a periodic table was correct.