Molecular Nature Of Matter - Dalton's Atomic Theory

According to the Atomic hypothesis, all things are made up of small fundamental units termed as atoms, which can be defined as tiny particles that move in perpetual motion, which attract or repel each other depending on their inter-particle distance. Dalton suggested in his findings that an atom is the smallest unit of matter, which cannot be divided any further.

With his atomic theory, he explained the laws of definite and multiple proportions of elements when they combine to form a compound. As per Dalton’s atomic theory, any compound has a fixed mass proportionality of its constituents and when two elements combine to form a compound, the masses of the other elements are in a ratio of small integers to a fixed mass of one element. Also, according to his theory, atoms of one element are identical but differ from those of the other elements and a small number of atoms of each element combine to form a molecule of the compound.

Similar findings were suggested by a scientist named Gay Lussac in his study of gaseous molecules. He suggested that, when grasses combine chemically to form another gas, their volumes are in the ratio of small integers. As we know from Avogadro’s Law, equal volumes of all gasses at the same temperature and pressure have the same number of molecules. So, we can see that, if we combine Avogadro’s Law and Dalton’s Atomic Theory, we can explain Gay Lussac’s Law.

Now, in most of the cases, we see that the elements are in the form of molecules. So, Dalton’s atomic theory can be called as the molecular theory of matter.

But, later in the 19^th century, many scientists proved some of the finding of Dalton’s atomic theory to be wrong; the most important of the laws was that atoms are the smallest unit of matter. The discovery of electrons, protons, and neutrons suggested that atoms comprise of these three units in different proportions. Further, with the discovery of electron microscope and scanning tunneling microscope, the visualization of the same was made possible. It was proven that atoms are not individual units but the elementary units of matter. They consist of a nucleus and electrons and the nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons. Further findings suggest that the neutrons and protons also have further division, as they consist of smaller units termed as quarks and we can assume that further subdivision may lead us to even smaller units constituting the quarks. As we are aware of the studies going on the String theory of matter, as per which the presence of elementary string-like entity is being proposed.