What lessons does the history and study of the periodic table offer to other fields of science, and the pursuit science more generally

Consider the reduction reactions and their equilibrium constants. cu+(aq)+e−↽−−⇀cu(s)pb2+(aq)+2e−↽−−⇀pb(s)fe3+(aq)+3e−↽−−⇀fe(=6.2×108=4.0×10−5=9.3×10−3 cu + ( aq ) + e − ↽ − − ⇀ cu ( s ) k =6.2× 10 8 pb 2 + ( aq ) +2 e − ↽ − − ⇀ pb ( s ) k =4.0× 10 − 5 fe 3 + ( aq ) +3 e − ↽ − − ⇀ fe ( s ) k =9.3× 10 − 3 arrange these ions from strongest to weakest oxidizing agent.