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Proposed a mechanical universe with small solid masses in motion.
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Proposed an "atomic theory" with spherical solid atoms based upon measurable properties of mass.
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Studied the effect of electricity on solutions, coined term "electrolysis" as a splitting of molecules with electricity, developed laws of electrolysis. Faraday himself was not a proponent of atomism
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Built one of the first gas discharge tubes ("cathode ray tube").
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Arranged elements into 7 groups with similar properties. He discovered that the properties of elements "were periodic functions of the their atomic weights". This became known as the Periodic Law.
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Proposed that electricity was made of discrete negative particles he called "electrons". (Link to info on electrons)
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Used a CRT to experimentally determine the charge to mass ratio (e/m) of an electron =1.759 x 108 coulombs/gram.
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Studied radiations emitted from uranium and thorium and named them alpha and beta. And using alpha particles as atomic bullets, probed the atoms in a piece of thin (0.00006 cm) gold foil. He established that the nucleus was: very dense,very small and positively charged. He also assumed that the electrons were located outside the nucleus.
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Observed spontaneous disintegration of radioactive elements into variants he called "isotopes" or totally new elements, discovered "half-life", made initial calculations on energy released during decay.
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Using x-ray tubes, determined the charges on the nuclei of most atoms. He wrote"The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus". This work was used to reorganize the periodic table based upon atomic number instead of atomic mass.
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Discovered the existence of isotopes through the use of a mass spectrograph.
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Developed an explanation of atomic structure that underlies regularities of the periodic table of elements. His atomic model had atoms built up of sucessive orbital shells of electrons.
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Discovered that electrons had a dual nature-similar to both particles and waves. Particle/wave duality. Supported Einstein.
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Using alpha particles discovered a neutral atomic particle with a mass close to a proton. Thus was discovered the neutron.
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CitationsConducted the first controlled chain reaction releasing energy from the atoms nucleus.
