John Dalton
Cate Lovrich
Daltons discovery
Dalton created the very first atomic theory. Democritus first suggested the existence of the atom but it took almost two millennia before the atom was placed on a solid foothold as a fundamental chemical object by John Dalton .
John Dalton
John Dalton was born September 6, 1766, in Eaglesfield, England. He went to John Fletcher's quaker grammer school. He was the first scientist to explain the behavior of atoms in terms of the measurement of weight. During Daltons early career as a scientist, he looked into color blindness and did a lot of research. Since the condition had affected him since birth, Dalton theorized that it had to be hereditary. He soon proved his theory to be true. Daltons fascination with gases gradually led him to know that every form of matter ( solid, liquid, gas ) was also made up of small individual particles. He died July 26, 1844 in Manchester England.
Daltons model
Daltons theory had 4 parts to it.
1. Atoms are small invisible particles.
2. Atoms of one element are all the same.
3. Atoms of different elements are different.
4. Compounds form by combining atoms.
History of Era
Dalton grew up as a quaker and lived a very modest life. His education was not very important and his higher educational opportunities were restricted. During this time Quakers were Christians but they were seen as dissenters by the established Church of England. He did not get married and lived a loner life.