Conserving the periodic table

By Morag Easson and Kristy Turner2019-08-28T11:32:00

An old document, the oldest classroom periodic table, is held in place by circular material weights on an angled board

Source: Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Library ms39012

How paper conservators preserved the one of the world’s oldest periodic tables

Uncovering one of the oldest known charts of the periodic table at the University of St Andrews offers lessons in paper conservation. The lead conservator from this project describes the chemistry involved in preserving old paper artefacts.

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