THE IDEAS OF ANCIENT

GREEKS ON ATOMS
 OBJECTIVES
 At the end of the lesson, you should be able to
describe the ideas of the Ancient Greeks on atoms.
 REVIEW
 ________ is the starting material for the formation of
heavier isotopes or new nuclei.
 What is the effect of a neutron capture?
 What is an r-process?
 The Indivisible Atom
 Democritus of Abdera
(460 - 370 B.C.) and his
teacher Leucippus of
Miletus (500 B.C.) were
Greek scholars who
believed that matter could
be divided into tiny
particles until such point
where it can no longer be
divided anymore.
They became the first proponents of the atomic theory.
Their early ideas on atoms are summarized below:
1. All matter is made up of tiny,
indivisible particles called
atoms, which come from the
Greek word atomos meaning
uncuttable. The atoms are
indestructible, impenetrable, and
unchangeable.
2. The atoms make up the universe
as they are continuously moving
in a “void” that surrounds them,
repelling each other when they
collide, or combining into
clusters.
3. Atoms are completely solid which
means that there is no void or empty
space inside that will make them prone
to disintegration or destruction.
4. Atoms are homogeneous in nature.
They have no internal structures.
Atoms come in different shapes and
sizes.
5. These proposed ideas about atoms
were supported by some Greek
philosophers but were strongly opposed
by others, especially Aristotle.
Aristotle's Opposing View on Atoms
 Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, had a different view on
atoms. He disregarded the existence of atoms proposed
by Leucippus and Democritus. He did not believe that
matter is a collection of atoms.
 Instead, he believed that
everything in the universe
is made up of the four
elements, air, fire, water,
and earth. He stated that
believing in atoms would
mean putting restriction
on the gods, who have the
power to divide elements
smaller than the atom.
  Aristotle's beliefs greatly flourished especially in the
Middle Ages in Europe, where Roman Catholics were
strongly influenced by his ideas. They believed that ideas
about the atoms equated to Godlessness. Thus, the whole
concept of the atom was dismissed for centuries. However,
the Greeks' concept of atoms and even Aristotle's
arguments were rediscovered in France at the start of the
Renaissance period. The theory of Aristotle was proven
incorrect, and Democritus' and Leucippus' theory on the
existence of atoms was proven right.
Explore!
 Try it!
 Get a piece of paper. Divide it into half as many
times as you can.
 What do you notice?
 How would you relate this activity to the concept
of the atoms?
 What do you think?

 Is the early idea of the existence of the atom

true?
 Key Points
 Democritus and Leucippus, ancient Greek philosophers, first
proposed the idea of the atom.
 Their theory states that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible
particles called atoms.
 They believed that the atoms are very small, have different shapes
and sizes, are continuously moving, and can combine with other
atoms.
 Aristotle did not believe that matter is strictly a collection of
atoms, and that matter can be made of air, fire, water, or earth.
 Democritus’ idea on the existence of atoms was accepted, and
Aristotle’s argument was proven incorrect.
 evaluation
 Who among the following scholars proposed that matter is
composed of tiny, unbreakable particles?
 In what ancient nation did Democritus and Leuccipus come from?
 The Greek word that means “uncuttable”?
 All _____ is made up of atoms.
 What early ideas of the atom tell you that an atom has no parts?