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History of the Atom

  • Democritus
    460 BCE

    Democritus

    The Greek philosopher Democritus (460-370 B.C.) was the first person to propose the idea that matter was not infinitely divisible. He believed matter was made up of tiny individual particles called atomos. Democritus believed that atoms could not be created, destroyed, or further divided.
  • Aristotle
    384 BCE

    Aristotle

    Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
    Aristotle is one of the most influential greek philosophers. He rejected the notion of atoms, because it did not agree with his own ideas about nature. One of Aristotle major criticisms concerned that ideas that atoms moved through empty space. Aristotle did not believe that empty space could exist.
  • Democritus Ideas
    370 BCE

    Democritus Ideas

    Democritus Ideas (460- 370 B.C.)
    1. Matter is composed of atoms, which move through empty space.
    2. Atoms are solid, homogeneous, indestructible, and indivisible.
    3.Different kinds of atoms have different sizes and shapes.
    4.Size, shape, and movement of atoms determine the properties of matter.
  • Aristotle Ideas
    322 BCE

    Aristotle Ideas

    Aristotle ideas (384-322 B.C.)
    1. Empty Space cannot exist.
    2.Matter is made of earth, fire, air, and water.
  • John Dalton

    John Dalton

    John Dalton (1766-1844)
    A schoolteacher in England, marks the beginning of development of modern atomic theory. Dalton revived and revised Democritus's ideas based on the results of scientific research he conducted.
  • Dalton's atomic theory

    Dalton's atomic theory

    Dalton's atomic theory (1803)
    The results of John Dalton's research are known as Dalton's atomic theory,
  • John Dalton Ideas

    John Dalton Ideas

    John Dalton Ideas (1766-1844)
    1.Matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
    2.Atoms are indivisible and indestructible.
    3.atoms of a given elements are identical in size, mass, and chemical properties.
    4.Atoms of a specific element are different from those of another element.
    5.Different atoms combine in simple whole-number ratios to form compounds.
    6.In a chemical reaction, atoms are separated, combined or rearranged.