Lesson 4.

The Atomic Theory

General Chemistry
Chemistry11/2
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Our world is made up
of atoms, the building
blocks of matter.

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 Almost everything you see and touch in this
world is made up of these building blocks of
matter. Despite the undeniably existence of an
atom, its model remains a theory up to this
date.

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What is the atomic theory?

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Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Describe Dalton’s atomic theory

(STEM_GC11AM-1c-e-16).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Describe the postulates of the Dalton’s atomic

theory.

● Compare and contrast Greek’s concept of

atomism and Dalton’s atomic theory.

● Describe Dalton’s hard sphere model of an atom.

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What is the ancient concept of
an atom?

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The Concept of Atomos

The beginning of the ancient

concept of an atom started when
Democritus stated that all matter
consists of tiny particles that were
so tiny that they could not be
further broken down into any
smaller pieces.

Democritus
(470-380 BC ) 8
 The Concept of Atomos

● He called these tiny particles as atomos which literally

means indivisible.

● This concept is also known as atomism, overall it

describes an atom as both indivisible and
indestructible particle.

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The Primal Matter: What Is the Basic Element?

Thales (640-540 BC) thought it was water.

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The Primal Matter: What Is the Basic Element?

Anaximenes (611-546 BC) thought it was air.

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The Primal Matter: What Is the Basic Element?

Heraclitus (540-475 BC) thought it was fire.

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The Primal Matter: What Is the Basic Element?

Empedocles (430-540 BC) though it was Earth (land).

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Primordial Substances (Roots)

air fire water earth

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Aristotle’s Elements

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Remember

In ancient times, the first four elements

are air, water, fire, and earth. For
centuries, things are classified using the
four elements.

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What is Dalton’s atomic theory?

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Dalton’s Elements

In 1803, John Dalton, developed the

first atomic theory and introduced
the use of symbols to represent the
elements.

These elements can combine to

form compounds.

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Dalton’s Compounds

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Dalton’s Compounds

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

The postulates about the nature of matter on which Dalton’s

atomic theory is based are summarized as follows:

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Postulate 1
Elements are composed
of extremely small
particles, called atoms.

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Postulate 2
All atoms of a given
element are identical,
having the same size,
mass, and chemical
properties. The atoms
of one element are
different from the
atoms of all other
elements. 23
 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Postulate 3
Compounds are composed
of atoms of more than one
element. In any compound,
the ratio of the numbers of
atoms of any two of the
element present is either an
integer or a simple fraction.

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Postulate 4
A chemical reaction
involves only the
separation, combination, or
rearrangement of atoms; it
does not result in their
creation or destruction.

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 Dalton’s Atomic Model

Dalton’s atomic model is

represented as solid, hard
spheres, like billiard (pool) ball
as he thought that atoms were
the smallest particles of
matter.

Dalton’s billiard model of an atom

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Remember

Democritus’ concept of an atom marks

the beginning of ancient ideas about the
atom, on the other hand, Dalton’s atomic
theory marks the start of modern ideas.

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Postulates 1 and 2 explain that, an element, regardless of

size and source, have the same properties.

No two elements have the same set of properties although

they may be similar in some aspects.

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 Dalton’s Atomic Theory

For example, as a hypothetical representation of a unique

atom as shown below, element X is different from element
Y, so as element Z.

atom X atom Z
atom Y
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When two elements combine,
can they form more than one
compound?

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 Atoms Combine in a Certain Ratio

Postulate 3 only explains that when atoms combine, the

ratio of the atoms involved must be a whole number, the
ratio also plays a key role in the nature of the compound
formed.

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Atoms Combine in a Certain Ratio

Formation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

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 Atoms Are Indestructible

According to the fourth postulate of Dalton, when atoms

combined, they are only separated, combined, or
rearranged to form a new compound. The identity of the
atoms involved are neither altered nor changed.

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 Check Your Understanding

Which of the following pairs are correct? If the pair is

correct, write the word correct Otherwise, write the
correct partner of the first term or word.

_______________ 1. Empedocles: fire, air, water, and earth

_______________ 2. Anaximenes: fire

_______________ 3. Democritus: atomos

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 Check Your Understanding

Classify the given concept if it is ancient or modern.

_______________ 1. the concept of atomos

_______________ 2. primal matter

_______________ 3. Dalton’s atomic theory

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● The ancient concept of an atom began with the atom

concept of Democritus.

● The four elements of matter are fire, air, water, and

earth.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Modern chemistry began with Dalton’s atomic theory,

which states that
○ all matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles
called atoms;
○ all atoms of the same element are identical;
○ compounds contain atoms of different elements
combined in whole-number ratios, and
○ atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a
chemical reaction.
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Challenge Yourself

The carbon dioxide in the breath that

we exhale is the same carbon dioxide
in carbonated drinks. Which
postulate of Dalton’s atomic theory
can be used to prove this
phenomenon?

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Bibliography

Buckley, Don. Interactive Science: Chemistry. United States of America.: Pearson Education, 2011.
Print.

Carpi, Anthony. “Early Ideas about Matter: Chemistry.” Visionlearning. Visionlearning, Inc., February
12, 2017.
https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Early-Ideas-about-Matter/49/reading.

Chang, Raymond. 2010. Chemistry (10th ed). New York: McGraw-Hill. Print.

Dalton's Symbols of Elements. Accessed January 31, 2020.

https://www.simply.science/popups/daltons.html.

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Bibliography

Hawe, Alan., Davies, Dan., McMahon, Kendra., Towler, Lee., Collier, Christopher., and Scott, Tonie.
Science 5 - 11: A Guide for Teachers. 2nd Edition. New York, NY: David Fulton Publishers, 2009.
Print.

Padolina. Ma. Christina. 2010. Conceptual and Functional Chemistry (2nd ed). Manila: Vibal
Publishing House, Inc. 2010. Print.

Petrucci, Ralph H. General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications. Toronto, Ont.: Pearson
Canada, 2011. Print.

John Dalton's Periodic Tables. Accessed January 31, 2020.

http://www.sussexvt.k12.de.us/science/The History of the World 1500-1899/John Dalton's periodic
tables.htm.
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