EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -John Dalton studied data gathered by himself and other scientists and noticed a pattern that later came to be known as the law of multiple proportions. In compounds which all contain a particular element, the content of that element will differ across these compounds by ratios of small whole numbers.

Detailed explanation-2: -Dalton proposed that every single atom of an element, such as gold, is the same as every other atom of that element. He also noted that the atoms of one element differ from the atoms of all other elements. Today, we still know this to be mostly true.

Detailed explanation-3: -Dalton’s Atomic Theory (1804) All matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms. Atoms of a given element are identical in size, mass, and other properties. Atoms of different elements differ in size, mass, and other properties. Atoms cannot be subdivided, created, or destroyed.

Detailed explanation-4: -Humphry Davy (British, 1748–1829) and Claude-Louis Berthollet (French, 1748–1822) were not convinced. Because atoms could not be seen, Dalton could not base his theory on direct observation, and this was a major stumbling block for many scientists.

Detailed explanation-5: -Dalton’s atomic theory suggested that all matter was comprised of indivisible and indestructible atoms with distinct masses and properties, the combination of which determined the physical nature of their constituent elements.