One of the most important ephemeris in the history of atoms has just been completed, the one known as Dalton’s Atomic Theory, where its predecessor, John Dalton, took up the old ideas of Leucippus and Democritus. What was he referring to? John Dalton Contribution to Atomic Theory john dalton atomic theory experiment john dalton discovery
This theory, which has passed into the annals of the history of physics because of its great importance, was the first complete attempt to describe all matter related to atoms and their properties. A theory based on the law of conservation of mass and the law of constant composition. john dalton atomic theory experiment john dalton discovery
Chemical Structure, The Discovery That Changed Science
Dalton’s Atomatic Theory is composed of four major parts . The first is to ensure that all matter is made of atoms and that these in turn are indivisible. The second part of his theory states that all the atoms of an element are identical in both mass and properties. The third theory ensures that compounds are combinations of two or more different types of atoms. While the fourth testifies that a chemical reaction is a rearrangement of atoms. Although yes, part of this first atomic theory had to be modified based on the discovery of subatomic particles and isotopes.
John Dalton marked a before and after when it came to theorizing about atoms . In fact, we must go back to Ancient Greece to get a glimpse of these early theories. And it is that the idea of the atom presented by the Greek philosopher Democritus did not have great acceptance and even to many scientists throughout history it even seemed ridiculous
What are Dalton’s postulates
For centuries no one continued to work and study it as much as this chemist born in the heart of England in the mid-18th century. After the Greek philosophical currents, more than 2,000 years passed for another atomic theory to transcend in the scientific world: that of John Dalton, physicist, chemist and meteorologist.
Unlike the purest atomists – who only used logic to define the atom – Dalton carried out an enormous number of experiments with the aim of demonstrating the existence of atoms . For example, with gases face to study the characteristics of the pressure of this state of matter and that concluded that the atoms of gases must be in constant random movement. Or combine elements in order to create molecules of compounds, which allowed him to affirm that a given compound is always made up of the same elements in the same proportions.
As is logical, more than 200 years later advances on the atom have evolved greatly, however Dalton’s Theory is still valid in some aspects. For example, it is already assumed that atoms can be separated by nuclear reactions and that they are inseparable by chemical reactions, although today we know that there are isotopes or atoms with additional neutrons that have a greater mass. Despite this, even today John Dalton is considered one of the greatest (and even the greatest) student of atoms in history.
