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Eric Scerri, B.Sc., Ph.D.

Work Email Address:

scerri@chem.ucla.edu

Work Address:

Young Hall 4077C

Work Phone Number:

1 (310) 206-7443
Lecturer
Chemistry and Biochemistry

A Short Biography:

Dr. Scerri received his B.Sc. University of London, his C.P.G.S. from the University of Cambridge, his M. Phil. from the University of Southampton, and his Ph.D. from King's College, University of London.

Awards and Honors:

UCLA McCoy-Newby Award ; Foundations of Chemistry Editor ; California Institute of Technology Postdoctoral Fellow ; London School of Economics (Department of Philosophy of Science) Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Interest:

History and Philosophy of Chemistry including the question of the reduction of chemistry to quantum mechanics. Historical evolution of the periodic system and successive theoretical explanations for the periodic system. The philosophical nature of 'elements' including the elements as basic substances as simple substances (Lavoisier) and elements as basic substances (Mendeleev and later Paneth). The presentation of electronic structure and quantum mechanics in contemporary chemical education.

Author and Editor




Books containing chapters by Eric Scerri


Detailed Biography:

Eric Scerri came to the US from England about twelve years ago to take up a postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech. He decided to stay! He regularly lectures to classes of 350 chemistry students at UCLA, as well as teaching an annual class on history and philosophy of science in the honors collegium department. He is the founder and Editor of "Foundations of Chemistry" an international journal for the History and Philosophy of Chemistry, now in its 10th year of publication and published by Springer. He has authored and edited several books;

The Story of the Periodic System: Its Development and Its Significance, Oxford University Press, New York, 2007. This book has been reprinted six times and has been one of Oxford University Press' best selling chemistry books. It was named as "Outstanding Academic Title," by Choice Library Magazine.

The Philosophy of Chemistry: The Synthesis of a New Discipline, Baird, D., Scerri, E.R., McIntyre, L., (eds.), volume 242 of Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Springer, Heidelberg, 2005.

Collected Papers on Philosophy of Chemistry by Eric Scerri, Imperial College Press, London, (2008),

Handbook on the Philosophy of Chemistry, E. Scerri (ed), Oxford University Press, in preparation.

Collected Papers on the Periodic Table by Eric Scerri, Imperial College Press, Due to appear 2009.

A Tale of Seven Elements: the last to be discovered among the 1-92, Oxford University Press, Due to appear in 2009.

His hobbies include playing blues on the electric guitar and the acoustic piano.

Publications:

E. Scerri   The Dual Sense of the Term "Element, Attempts to Derive the Madelung Rule and the Optimal Form of the Periodic Table, if any, International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 2009; 109: .
E. Scerri   Periodic Visions, Cosmos Magazine (Australia), 2008; (80): 72-77.
E. Scerri   The Past and Future of the Periodic Table (Translated into Spanish [in Educacion Quimica:Mexico & Ciencia y Investigacion:Spain], and French [Pour La Science]), American Scientist, 2008; 52-58.
E. Scerri   The Role of Triads in the Evolution of the Periodic System, Journal of Chemical Education, 2008; (85): 585-589.
E. Scerri   Mendeleev's Legacy: The Periodic System Chemical Heritage, 2007; 25(1): .
E. Scerri   Reduction and Emergence in Chemistry, Preceedings of the PSA 2006 Meeting, Philosophy of Science, 2007; (74): 920-931.
E. Scerri   Review of The Chemical Element: A Historical Perspective, by Andrew Ede, Journal of Chemical Education, 2007; (84): 24-24.
E. Scerri   Commentary on Allen & Knight's Response to the Lowdin Challenge, Foundations of Chemistry, 2006; (8): 285-293.
E. Scerri   Critique of Hendry on The Elements, On the Continuity of Reference of the Elements, A Response to Hendry, 2006; (37): 308-321.
E. Scerri, (R. Festa, A. Aliseda, and J. Peijnenburg, eds.)   The Formalization of the Periodic System Revisited, Cognitive Structures in Scientific Enquiry, Essays in Debate with Theo Kuipers, 2006; 2: .
E. Scerri   The Legacy of Mendeleev and his Periodic Table Xjenza (Maltese Journal of Science), 2006; (11): 1-3.
E. Scerri   The Tyrrany of the Chemist, Chemistry International, 2006; (27): 27-28.
E. Scerri   Editorial 20, Foundations of Chemistry, 2005; (7): 119-123.
E. Scerri   Editorial 19, Foundations of Chemistry, 2005; (7): 1-4.
E. Scerri   Editorial 21, Foundations of Chemistry, 2005; (7): 199-202.
E. Scerri, D. Baird, L. McIntyre, in (Baird, D., Scerri, E.R., McIntyre, L. eds.)   Introductory Chapter, Philosophy of Chemistry, The Synthesis of a New Discipline , Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol. 242, 2005; 3-18.
E. Scerri, in (Baird, D., Scerri, E.R., McIntyre, L. eds.)   Normative and Descriptive Philosophy of Science and the Role of Chemistry, Philosophy of Chemistry, The Synthesis of a New Discipline, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol. 242, 2005; 119-128.
E. Scerri   Presenting the Left-Step Periodic Table, Education in Chemistry, 2005; (42): 135-136.
E. Scerri   Response to Barnes' Critique of Scerri and Worrall, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 2005; (36): 813-816.
E. Scerri   Simples and Compounds, Chemistry International, 2005; (27): 13-13.
E. Scerri   Some Aspects of the Metaphysics of Chemistry and the Nature of the Elements, Hyle, 2005; 11: 127-145.
E. Scerri   Editorial 16, Foundations of Chemistry, 2004; (6): 1-2.
E. Scerri   Editorial 17, Foundations of Chemistry, 2004; (6): 199-201.
E. Scerri   Editorial 18, Foundations of Chemistry, 2004; (6): 137-160.
E. Scerri   Film Review of "What the Bleep Do We Know?", , Skeptical Inquirer, 2004; .
E. Scerri, in (N. Bhushan, guest editor)   How Ab Inito is Ab Initio Quantum Chemistry? , Foundations of Chemistry, 2004; (6): 93-116.
E. Scerri   Principles and Parameters in Chemistry and Physics, Philosophy of Science, 2004; (71): 1082-1094.
E. Scerri, in (D. Rouvray, B. King eds.)   Relative Virtues of the Pyramidal and Left-Step Periodic Tables, The Periodic Table : Into the 21st Century, 2004; 142-160.
E. Scerri   Response to letter from Cardellini, Journal of Chemical Education, 2004; (81): 192-194.
E. Scerri   Response to letter from Eckstrom, Journal of Chemical Education, 2004; (81): 195-195.
E. Scerri   The Placement of Hydrogen in Periodic System, Chemistry International, 2004; 26(3): 21-22.
E. Scerri   The Placement of Hydrogen in Periodic System, reprinted in Chemistry in Australia, 2004; 4(71): 22-22.
E. Scerri, in (J. E. Earley, ed.)   Constructivism, Relativism and Chemistry, Chemical Explanation, Proceedings of New York Academy of Sciences, 2003; 988: .
E. Scerri   Editorial 13, Foundations of Chemistry, 2003; (5): 1-6.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 14, Foundations of Chemistry, 2003; (5): 107-111.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 15, Foundations of Chemistry, 2003; (5): 185-188.
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E. Scerri   Hafnium, Chemical & Engineering News Special Issue on the Periodic System, 2003; 138.
E. Scerri, in (E. Brandas and E. Kryachko eds.)   Löwdin's Remarks on the Aufbau Principle and a Philosopher's View of Ab Initio, Fundamental World of Quantum Chemistry vol II, A Tribute Volume to the Memory of Per-Olov Löwdin, 2003; 675-694.
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E. Scerri   Philosophical Confusion in Chemical Education, Journal of Chemical Education, 2003; (80): 468-474.
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E. Scerri   Philosophy of Chemistry, Chemistry International, 2003; 6-8.
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E. Scerri   Response to Vollmer's Review of Minds and Molecules, Philosophy of Science, 2003; (70): 391-398.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 10, Foundations of Chemistry, 2002; (4): 1-4.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 11, Foundations of Chemistry, 2002; (4): 93-96.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 12, Foundations of Chemistry, 2002; (4): 179-182.
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E. Scerri   Response to Katz, The Chemical Educator, 2002; .
E. Scerri   Response to Spence et al. Have Orbitals Really Been Observed, Journal of Chemical Education, 2002; (79): 310-310.
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E. Scerri, S. Erduran, in (J. Gilbert, O. De Jong, R. Justi, D.F. Teagust, J.H. Van Driel, eds.)   The Nature of Chemical Knowledge and Chemical Education, Chemical Education: Towards Research-Based Practice, 2002; 7-27.
E. Scerri   A Philosophical Commentary on Giunta's Critique of Newlands' Periodic System, Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, 2001; (26): 124-132.
E. Scerri, J. Edwards   Bibliography of Literature on the Periodic System, Foundations of Chemistry, 2001; (3): 183-196.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 7, Foundations of Chemistry, 2001; (3): 1-4.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 8, Foundations of Chemistry, 2001; (3): 97-104.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 9, Foundations of Chemistry, 2001; (3): 197-199.
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E.Scerri, J. Worrall   Prediction and the Periodic Table, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 2001; (32): 407-452.
E. Scerri   The New Philosophy of Chemistry and Its Application to Chemical Education, Cerapie, 2001; (2): 165-170.
E. Scerri   The Periodic Table, Encarta Encyclopedia, 2001; .
E. Scerri, Ursula Klein (ed.)   The Periodic Table: The Ultimate Paper Tool in Chemistry: Tools and Modes of Representation in the Laboratory Sciences, Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 2001; 222: 163-177.
E. Scerri, N. Koertge, ed.   The Recently Claimed Observation of Atomic Orbitals and Some Related Philosophical Issues, Philosophy of Science, 2001; (68): S76-S88.
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E. Scerri   Second Response to Needham, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 2000; (14): 307-316.
E. Scerri   Editorial 4, Foundations of Chemistry, 2000; (2): 1-4.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 5, Foundations of Chemistry, 2000; (2): 95-98.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 6, Foundations of Chemistry, 2000; (2): 189-194.
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E. Scerri   Have Orbitals Really Been Observed?, Journal of Chemical Education, 2000; (77): 1492-1494.
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E. Scerri, P. Weingart, N. Stehr (eds.)   Interdisciplinary Research at the Caltech Beckman Institute, Practicing Interdisciplinarity, 2000; 192-214.
E. Scerri, Bhushan, N., Rosenfeld, S., (eds.)   Naive Realism, Reduction and the 'Intermediate Position', Of Minds and Molecules, 2000; .
E. Scerri   Philosophy of Chemistry - A New Interdisciplinary Field?, Journal of Chemical Education, 2000; (77): 522-526.
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E. Scerri   Response to Nesbet, Foundations of Chemistry, 2000; (2): 77-78.
E. Scerri   The Failure of Reduction and How to Resist the Disunity of Science in Chemical Education, Science and Education, 2000; (9): 405-425.
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E. Scerri, L. Guterman   Waxing Philosophical About Chemistry, Chemistry, 2000; 17-20.
E. Scerri   A Critique of Atkins' Periodic Kingdom and Some Writings on Electronic Structure, Foundations of Chemistry, 1999; (1): 287-296.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 1, Foundations of Chemistry, 1999; (1): 1-5.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 2, Foundations of Chemistry, 1999; (1): 107-109.
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E. Scerri   Editorial 3, Foundations of Chemistry, 1999; (1): 220-225.
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E. Scerri   In Defense of Quantum Numbers, Journal of Chemical Education, 1999; (76): 608.
E. Scerri   La Filosofia de la Quimica, la Seccion Mas Reciente de la Filosofia de la Ciencia, Anuario Latino Americano de Quimica, 1999; XI: 187-191.
E. Scerri   On the Nature of Chemistry, Educacion Química, 1999; (10): 74-78.
E. Scerri   Response to Emerson on the Periodic Table, Journal of Chemical Education, 1999; (76): 1189.
E. Scerri   Response to Needham, International Studies in Philosophy of Science, 1999; (13): 185-192.
E. Scerri   Electrons and Realism, American Scientist, 1998; 86.
E. Scerri   How Good is the Quantum Mechanical Explanation of the Periodic Table?, Journal of Chemical Education, 1998; (75): 1384-1385.
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E. R. Scerri, V. Kreinovich, P. Wojciechowski and R. R. Yager   Ordinal Explanation of the Periodic System of Chemical Elements, International Journal of Uncertainty, Fuzziness and Knowledge Based Systems, 1998; (6): 387-400.
E. Scerri   Popper's Naturalized Approach to the Reduction of Chemistry, International Studies in Philosophy of Science, 1998; (12): 33-44.
E. Scerri   The Evolution of the Periodic System (Translated into French, Italian, German, Polish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic), Scientific American, 1998; (279): 78-83.
E. Scerri   Are Chemistry and Philosophy Miscible?, Chemical Intelligencer, 1997; (3): 44-46.
E. Scerri   Bibliography on Philosophy of Chemistry, Synthese, 1997; (111): 305-324.
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E. Scerri, J.J. Lagowski ed.   Chemical Periodicity, Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry, 1997; 3: 22-32.
E. Scerri   Demystification at What Cost?, Journal of Chemical Education, 1997; (74): 480.
E. Scerri   Editorial Introduction co-authored with L. McIntyre, Synthese, 1997; (111): 211-212.
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E. Scerri   Has the Periodic Table Been Successfully Axiomatized?, Erkentnnis, 1997; (47): 229-243.
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E. Scerri   Interdisciplinary Research at the Beckman Institutes, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 1997; (22): 1-7.
E. Scerri, K. Mainzer, A. Müller, and W. Saltzer, eds.   It All Depends What You Mean By Reduction, From Simplicity to Complexity, Information, Interaction, Emergence, 1997; 77-93.
E. Scerri   The Case for Philosophy of Chemistry, Synthese, 1997; (111): 213-232.
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E. Scerri   The Periodic Table and the Electron, American Scientist, 1997; (85): 546-553.
E. Scerri, K. Ruthenberg and N. Psarros, J. Schummer, eds.   Reduktion und Erklärung in der Chemie, Philosophie der Chemie - Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblik, 1996; .
E. Scerri, P. Jannich and N. Psarros, eds.   Stephen Brush, The Periodic Table and the Nature of Chemistry, Die Sprache der Chemie, 1996; 169-176.
E. Scerri, M. Melrose   Why the 4s Orbital Is Occupied before the 3d, Journal of Chemical Education, 1996; 73(6): 498-503.
E. Scerri   Periodic Blunder, Education in Chemistry, 1995; (32): 93.
E. Scerri   Philosophy of Chemistry Resurgens, Chemical Heritage, 1995; 13(1): 33.
E. Scerri   The Exclusion Principle, Chemistry and Hidden Variables, Synthese, 1995; (102): 165-169.
E. Scerri   Explained Away, Education in Chemistry, 1994; (31): 3.
E. Scerri, D. Hull, M. Forbes, and R. Burian, eds.   Has Chemistry Been at Least Approximately Reduced to Quantum Mechanics?, PSA, 1994; (1): 160-170.
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E. Scerri   Periodic Praise, Education in Chemistry, 1994; 31(2): 55.
E. Scerri   Plus ça Change . (The Periodic Table), Chemistry in Britain, 1994; 30(5): 397-381.
E. Scerri   Prediction of the Nature of Hafnium from Chemistry: Bohr's Theory and Quantum Theory, Annals of Science, 1994; (51): 137-150.
E. Scerri   A Question for Theoreticians, Education in Chemistry, 1993; 30(5): 121.
E. Scerri   Book Review of "Meaning of Quantum Theory," by J. Baggott, Chemistry in Britain, 1993; (29): 612.
E. Scerri   Configurational Energy and Bond Polarity Index, Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1993; (97): 5786.
E. Scerri, S. French and H. Kamminga, eds.   Correspondence and Reduction in Chemistry, Correspondence, Invariance and Heuristics: Essays in Honour of Heinz Post, 1993; (148): 45-64.
E. Scerri   Elementary Particles and Philosophy of Science, Physics Education, 1993; (28): 9.
E. Scerri   Is Chemistry a Reduced Science?, Education in Chemistry, 1993; 30(4): 112.
E. Scerri   The Reduction of Chemistry, Popper and Induction, in The Philosophy of Chemistry, Report of a meeting held at Science Museum, London, October, 1993; .
E. Scerri   Book Review of "From Caveman to Chemist," by H.W. Saltzberg, Chemistry in Britain, 1992; (28): 357.
E. Scerri, F.A.J.L. James, ed.   Book Review of "The Correspondence of Michael Faraday", Education in Chemistry, 1992; 29: 24.
E. Scerri   Book Review of "The Historical Development of Chemical Concepts," by R. Mierzecki, Education in Chemistry, 1992; (29): 612.
E. Scerri   Deducing Answers, Chemistry in Britain, 1992; 28(11): 986.
E. Scerri   Metal on its Mettle, Education in Chemistry, 1992; 29(5): 126.
E. Scerri   Praised Solution Raises Problem, Education In Chemistry, 1992; 29(4): 96.
E. Scerri   Quantum Chemistry Truth, Chemistry in Britain, 1992; 28(4): 326.
E. Scerri   Quantum Extrapolation, Chemistry in Britain, 1992; 28(9): 781.
E. Scerri   The Nature of the Chemical Bond - Once More, Journal of Chemical Education, 1992; 69(7): 602.
E. Scerri   The Quantum and the Chemistry Teacher, Education in Chemistry, 1992; 29(3): 68.
E. Scerri   Aufbau Mnemonics, Journal of Chemical Education, 1991; 68(5): 445.
E. Scerri   Chemistry, Spectroscopy and the Question of Reduction, Journal of Chemical Education, 1991; 68(2): 122-126.
E. Scerri   Electronic Configurations, Quantum Mechanics and Reduction, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 1991; (42): 309-325.
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E. Scerri   Ionisation Energies Revisited Yet Again, Education in Chemistry, 1991; 28(3): 69.
E. Scerri   The Electronic Periodic Table, Journal of Chemical Education, 1991; 68(8): 712.
E. Scerri   Ionisation Energies, Education in Chemistry, 1990; 27(6): 155.
E. Scerri   Reductionist Physics, Physics Education, 1990; 25(3): 138.
E. Scerri   Eastern Mysticism and the Alleged Parallels with Physics, American Journal of Physics, 1989; 57(8): 687-692.
E. Scerri   Orbital Energies, Education in Chemistry, 1989; 26(6): 183.
E. Scerri   Presenting the Periodic Table, Education in Chemistry, 1989; 26(3): 94.
E. Scerri   Quantum Failure, New Scientist, 1989; (1651): 76.
E. Scerri   Transition Metal Configurations and Limitations of the Orbital Approximation, Journal of Chemical Education, 1989; 66(6): 481-483.
E. Scerri   The Tao of Chemistry, Journal of Chemical Education, 1986; (63): 106-107.
E. Scerri   The Physical Significance of the Planck Length, Indian Journal of Theoretical Physics, 1980; (28): 389.
E. Scerri   Low Frequency Raman Spectra of Polyoxymethylene, Polymer, 1979; 20(12): 1470.
E. Scerri   The Mass-Space-Time Continuum, Speculations in Science and Technology, 1978; 1(3): 289.
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