John Dalton Essay

John Dalton was an English chemist and physicist. He is officially recognized as the first person to define the atom as the smallest particle of an element containing all of the elements properties. In 1909, John Dalton described atoms as solid, indestructible particles that make up all matter. John Dalton established a theory based on atoms of different elements being distinguished by differences in their weights. The theory had proposed different basic ideas. For instance, all matter is composed of atoms. It stated that all atoms of the same element are identical, and atoms cannot be created, destroyed or divided into smaller particles. Atoms cannot be converted into any other element. Different elements have different types of atoms, and chemical reactions occur when atoms are rearranged. Lastly, it stated that compounds are formed from atoms of the basic elements. With some errors, Dalton’s theory provided various explanations of different concepts, which let to new fields of experimentation. The Modern Atomic Theory was established off of Dalton’s theory and many other scientists’ ideas. One error of Dalton’s theory is that there are smaller particles than the atom, which are recognized as subatomic particles. They do combine together to form the smallest unit possible. His idea and mistake lead to the discovery of the first part of the Modern Atomic Theory. The Modern Atomic Theory states that all matter is made up of atoms. Each atom is made up of smaller subatomic particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
The Modern Atomic Theory addresses that atoms of one element have the same properties, such as average mass and size. It was created off of Dalton’s theory which states atoms of one element are identical. Dalton’s theory was proven to be false because of the discovery of isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element differing by the mass of the atom. Dalton’s idea of atoms of one element being identical led to the discovery that they have the same properties, such as average mass and size. Also in Dalton’s theory, it states that matter cannot be destroyed, created nor split up. They cannot be destroyed by chemical reactions, but this section of his

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