Atomic Theory Timeline

  • Democritus
    440 BCE

    Democritus

    Atoms are "incuttable."
    Atoms constantly move
    Atoms are small, hard particles
  • Democritus Atomic Model
    440 BCE

    Democritus Atomic Model

  • Period: 440 BCE to

    Atomic Theory Timeline

  • John Dalton

    John Dalton

    All substances are made of atoms. Atoms of different elements are different. Atoms of the same elements are exactly the same. Elements combine in specific proportions. He conducted experiments in combining elements.
  • John Dalton Atomic Model

    John Dalton Atomic Model

  • J.J. Thomson

    J.J. Thomson

    He conducted the cathode-ray tube experiment. His theory of the atomic structure lead to the "plum-pudding" model. There are small, negatively charged particles inside an atom.
  • J.J. Thomson Atomic Model

    J.J. Thomson Atomic Model

  • Ernest Rutherford

    Ernest Rutherford

    Atoms contain mostly empty space. He conducted the gold foil experiment. Most of an atom's mass is in the nucleus. There is a small, dense, positively charged nucleus. Electrons move in empty space in the atom.
  • Ernest Rutherford Atomic Model

    Ernest Rutherford Atomic Model

  • Niels Bohr

    Niels Bohr

    Electrons jump between levels from path to path. Electrons travel in definite paths.
  • Niels Bohr Atomic Model

    Niels Bohr Atomic Model

  • Erwin Schrodinger and Werner Heisenberg

    Erwin Schrodinger and Werner Heisenberg

    Electron paths cannot be predicted. Electrons are found in electron clouds, not paths.
  • Erwin Schrodinger and Werner Heisenberg Atomic Model

    Erwin Schrodinger and Werner Heisenberg Atomic Model