Atomic Model Timeline

  • The Alchemists
    500 BCE

    The Alchemists

    The Alchemists broke down the chemical composition of the 4 basic elements, fire, earth, wind and water. They created the foundation of the modern day periodic table
  • Democritus
    430 BCE

    Democritus

    Democritus theorised that all material bodies are made up of indivisibly small atoms. He was a central figure in the development of the atomic theory of the universe
  • Plato
    427 BCE

    Plato

    Plato said atoms must derive from these 5 fundamental solids. He predicted that a 5th atomic type must exist, which was later called Ether.
  • Solar System Model
    1543

    Solar System Model

    The Solar System Model was created by astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus
  • Robert Boyle

    Robert Boyle

    He came up with the idea of the element. He used experimentation to understand atoms and elements.
  • Antoine Lavoisier

    Antoine Lavoisier

    Antoine Lavoisier determined that oxygen was a necessary substance in combustion, and he gave the element its name. He was known as the father of modern chemistry.
  • John Dalton

    John Dalton

    John Dalton developed methods to calculate atomic weights and he had an atomic theory which stated that, all matter is made of atoms.
  • Billiard Ball Model

    Billiard Ball Model

    The Billiard Ball Model was created by John Dalton
  • Amadeo Avogadro

    Amadeo Avogadro

    Amadeo Avogadro hypothesised that equal volume of different gasses contain the same number of molecules and they are at the same temperature or pressure.
  • Dmitri Mendeleev

    Dmitri Mendeleev

    Dmitri Mendeleev created the periodic classification of the chemical elements in which elements were arranged in order of increasing atomic weight.
  • JJ Thompson

    JJ Thompson

    JJ Thompson experiments with ray tubes conveyed that all atoms have small negatively charged subatomic electrons or particles
  • Plum Pudding Model

    Plum Pudding Model

    The plum pudding model was created by Sir Joseph John Thomson
  • Pierre and Marie Curie

    Pierre and Marie Curie

    Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the strongly radioactive elements polonium and radium which occurs naturally in uranium minerals. Maria penetrated rays by certain atoms.
  • Albert Einstein

    Albert Einstein

    He proved the existence of atoms by using math. He also revolutionised science using statistics.
  • Robert Millikan

    Robert Millikan

    Robert Millikan successfully determined the magnitude of the electrons charge. He showed by measuring how the various drops of oil moved around. He showed that their charge was always a multiple of a precisely determined charge.
  • Ernest Rutherford

    Ernest Rutherford

    Ernest Rutherford is known for his pioneering studies of radioactivity and the atom. He discovered the 2 kinds of radiation, alpha and beta particles coming from Uranium.
  • Niels Bohr

    Niels Bohr

    Niels Bohr proposed a theory for hydrogen based on quantum theory. He also made a model that explained why atoms only emit light fixed on wave lengths.
  • Henry G.J. Mosely

    Henry G.J. Mosely

    Henry G.J. Mosely used equipment he made himself to show that all elements identity is uniquely determined by the number of protons.
  • Electron Cloud Model

    Electron Cloud Model

    The Electron Cloud Model was created by Erwin Schrodinger
  • James Chadwick

    James Chadwick

    James Chadwick discovered the neutron. This discovery eventually led to the creation of the atomic bomb.
  • Werner Heisenberg

    Werner Heisenberg

    Werner Heisenberg formulated Quantum mechanics in terms of matrices and in discovering the uncertainty Principle, which says that the position of a particle and momentum can't be exactly known.
  • Erwin Schrodinger

    Erwin Schrodinger

    Erwin Schrodinger used mathematical equations to describe the probability of seeing an electron in a certain position.