Iako se periodni sustav elemenata (PSE) u Hrvatskoj predaje od 1888. godine, 20 godina od njegova otkrića te devet godina nakon početka redovite nastave kemije na zagrebačkom sveučilištu, standardnim je dijelom kemijske naobrazbe postao tek stotinu godina nakon otkrića. O Mendeljejevu se pretežno govorilo s panslavističkih pozicija, kao o "slavenskom Newtonu", što je više odmagalo nego pomagalo razumijevanju značenja i razvoja periodnog sustava.The Croatian (Yugoslav) Academy of Sciences and Arts was the first academy to elect D. I. Mendeleev as its honorary member (1882), whereas the periodic table of the elements has been taught regularly at the Zagreb University since 1888. The early interest of Croatian chemists in the periodic table should be attributed primarily to their pan-Slavic attitude, particularly as proof that Slavic people were able to produce "their own Newtons" (M. V. Lomonosov and D. I. Mendeleev). Such enthusiastic views, however, did not help in analyzing the contribution of Mendeleev and other scientists to the discovery and development of the periodic table of the elements
