Lesson 3.

John Dalton and the

Concept of Chemical
Elements
 point out the main ideas in
the discovery of the structure
1 of the atom and its subatomic
particles;
Objectives
cite the contribution of John
At the end
of the Dalton toward the
2
lesson, you understanding of the concept
should be of the chemical elements; and
able to:
explain how Dalton’s theory
3 contributed to the discovery of
other elements.
 Learn about It!

How Did Early Scientists Describe the Atom?

 Learn about It!

Atoms
• Democritus proposed that matter is composed of atoms.

• John Dalton used this concept to proposed his atomic

model.

• John Dalton expound the idea into his Atomic Theory.

 Learn about It!

Dalton’s Atomic Model

Billiard Ball Model

 Learn about It!

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

• Matter is made up of indivisible atoms. Atoms of the same
elements have the same properties.

• Atoms cannot be created nor destroyed. These can only be

combined, separated or rearranged.

• Atoms of the same or different elements may combine with

each other in a fixed, whole number ratio.
 Learn about It!

Laws Used by Dalton

● Law of Definite Proportion

● Law of Multiple Proportion

● Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy

Learn about It!

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

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Dalton’s List of Combination of Atoms

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Modern Atomic Theory

● Matter is composed of atoms.

● Atoms of the same elements generally have the same

properties. However, there are isotopes which are atoms of
the same element differing in the number of neutrons.
 Learn about It!

Modern Atomic Theory

● Atoms cannot be created nor destroyed. These can only be

combined, separated or rearranged.

● Atoms of the same or different elements may combine with

each other in a fixed, whole number ratio.
 Learn about It!

Elements

● Elements are composed of just one atom with different

properties.

● Jons Jacob Berzelius made use of symbols to represent

elements.

● Dmitri Mendeleev arranged elements in the Periodic Table.

Key Points

Democritus suggested the existence of the atom; but it

1 took two millennia before John Dalton placed a solid
foothold to it as a fundamental chemical object.

Dalton’s atomic theory proposed that all matter was

composed of atoms, indivisible and indestructible building
2 blocks. While all atoms of an element were identical,
different elements had atoms of differing size and mass.
Key Points

Atoms differ in their masses within one element is

3 called an isotope.

Dalton’s system of naming elements and compounds

4 was then replaced with the chemical symbols and
formulae by Jons Berzelius.
 Check Your Understanding

Identify what or who is being asked on the following

statements.

1. He is an English chemist known for his pioneering work in

the development of the atomic theory.
2. It is the type of compound formed when two atoms of
azote (nitrogen) combined.
3. This is the type of compound formed when one atom of
nitrogen combines with two atoms of oxygen.
 Challenge Yourself

How did John Dalton’s atomic theory influence the new and
existing ideas regarding chemical elements?
 Bibliography
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nova/physics/make-an-element.html.

McQuarrie, D.A., and Rock, P.A. 1991. General Chemistry. 3rd ed. New York: W.H. Freeman.

Watson, G.W. “A Brief History of Element Discovery, Synthesis, and Analysis.” Open Knowledge Project.
Accessed January 5, 2017, http://in.okfn.org/files/2013/07/A-BriefHistory-of-Element-
DiscoverySynthesis-and-Analysis.pdf.

2011. Encyclopedia of Trivia. Accessed July 17, 2018.

https://encyclopaediaoftrivia.blogspot.com/2011/08/aristotle.html.

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content/big-history-project/stars-and-elements/other-material3/a/from-alchemy-to-chemistry.
 Bibliography
Schelenz, Robin. 2018. University of California. April 10. Accessed July 17, 2018.
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/longform/how-ernest-o-lawrences-aha-moment-led-nuclear-
physics.

n.d. WAYNE RESA. Accessed July 17, 2018.

http://www.resa.net/curriculum/curriculum/science/curriculum/chemistry/unitdoc/unit1/.

2018. Core Concepts: Periodic Table. Accessed July 18, 2018.

http://periodictable.rosendigital.com/staticfiles/reproducibles/Introducing_Lesson.pdf.

2018. "Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information." nuclearconnect.org. Accessed July 20,
2018. Center For Nuclear Science and Technology Information. (2018). Retrieved from
nuclearconnect.org:
http://www.nuclearconnect.org/in-the-classroom/for-teachers/classroom-activities.

Gill, N.S. 2017. ThoughtCo. March 08. Accessed August 09, 2018. https://www.thoughtco.com/philosophy-
of-atomism-120427.