Final answer:
Dalton's atomic theory, proposed by John Dalton, revolutionized chemistry by explaining the behavior of matter using atoms. The theory stated that elements are made up of small, indivisible particles called atoms, and atoms combine in fixed ratios to form compounds. While many aspects of the theory are still valid today, some parts have been modified or disproven over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dalton's Atomic Theory
Dalton's atomic theory, proposed by John Dalton in 1807, revolutionized chemistry by explaining the behavior of matter using atoms. The theory consisted of several postulates:
- Elements are composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms.
- Atoms of the same element are identical in mass and properties, while atoms of different elements are different.
- Atoms combine in fixed, small, whole-number ratios to form compounds.
- In a chemical reaction, atoms are neither created nor destroyed, but are rearranged.
Many aspects of Dalton's atomic theory are still valid today, including the idea that elements are composed of atoms and that atoms combine to form compounds. However, some parts of the theory have been modified or disproven over time, such as the concept of indivisible atoms and the assumption that atoms have a fixed mass.
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