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Ariana Pérez Jiménez

Livingstone Researching

Chemistry

17 December 2018

The Atom and The Atomic Theory

An atom is defined as the smallest portion of a chemical element. Atomic theory is a

scientific theory about the nature of matter that says that all matter is composed of units

called atoms.

The Atomic Theory

In the centuries XVI and XVII began the development of the experimental chemistry,

by that time the English scientist John Dalton proposed the theory that claims all the matter is

made up of atoms.

Dalton’s atomic theory was the base for the modern atomic theory. But this would not

have been possible without the discoveries of physicists and chemistries like J.J Thomson,

Ernest Rutherford and Niels Bohr.

The modern atomic theory preserves the three basic statements proposed by Dalton. It

says that:

1. All matter is composed of atoms.

2. Atoms of the same element are the same; atoms of different elements are different.

3. Atoms combine in whole-number ratios to form compounds. (Jessie A; ch.3)

All these investigations of the atomic model conclude that the structure of the atom is

formed by a central part (nucleus), provided with particles with positive charge (protons) and

neutral charges (neutrons); and an external part provided by negatively charged particles

(electrons).
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In conclusion the importance of this theory can not be ignored because the atomic

theory is the most important theory in the history of science. All modern chemistry and

biochemistry are based on this theory and It has allowed the development of the

pharmaceutical industry and other advances.

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Works Cited

Key, Jessie A. "Atomic Theory – Introductory Chemistry- 1St Canadian Edition".

Opentextbc.Ca, 2018, https://opentextbc.ca/introductorychemistry/chapter/atomic-theory-2/.

Accessed 17 Dec 2018.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. "The History Of Atomic Theory Led To Quantum Mechanics".

Thoughtco, 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-atomic-theory-4129185. Accessed

17 Dec 2018.

Dingle, Adrian, and Anthony Carpi. "Atomic Theory I | Chemistry | Visionlearning".

Visionlearning, 2018, https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Atomic-

Theory-I/50. Accessed 17 Dec 2018.