The story of Matter - Part I
Key Points The ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Leucippus recorded the concept of the atomos , an indivisible building block of matter. The idea of an indivisible particle was further elaborated upon and explored by several scientists and philosophers, including Galileo, Newton, Boyle, Lavoisier, and Dalton. John Dalton, an English chemist, and meteorologist are credited with the first modern atomic theory based on his experiments with atmospheric gases. Key Terms atom : The smallest possible amount of matter that still retains its identity as a chemical element, now known to consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. Early History of the Atom The matter is composed of indivisible building blocks. This idea was recorded as early as the fifth century BCE by Leucippus and Democritus. The Greeks called these particles atomos , meaning indivisible, and the modern word “atom” is derived from this term. Democritus proposed that different types and combinations o...