Polata Atomic Model

AN ELECTROSTATIC MODEL OF THE ATOM


John Dalton

John Dalton

Dalton published his theories about the atom in 1802, that is 17 years after Coulomb published his inverse square law.

While Dalton’s Atomic Theory did not attempt to quantitatively describe the forces acting inside the atom Dalton did do much to clarify our understanding of the atom and chemistry.

Dalton’s Atomic Theory included the following principles:

1. Elements are made of extremely small particles called atoms.

2. Atoms of a given element are identical in size, mass and other properties; atoms of different elements differ in size, mass and other properties.

3. Atoms cannot be subdivided, created or destroyed.

4. Atoms of different elements combine in simple whole-number ratios to form chemical compounds.

5. In chemical reactions, atoms are combined, separated or rearranged.

Well over two hundred years later we can see how perceptive Dalton had been.

OK so this was a bit off track, but the point I want to make is just how little was generally understood about the atom prior to Dalton’s publication.

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