Chemistry Module 10, What's inside the Atom
Lesson 1. Early Ideas About the Atom
Matter is basically made up of atoms. This theory started more than 2,400 years ago
in Ancient Greece. But its rapid development only began about 1,000 years ago, when
John Dalton presented his own version of the atomic theory in 1803. In this lesson, we will
present the original Greek concept of the atom, and that of Dalton.
The Greek Concept
Chemistry Module 10, What's inside the AtomMatter is basically made up of atoms. This theory started more than 2,400 years ago
in Ancient Greece. But its rapid development only began about 1,000 years ago, when
John Dalton presented his own version of the atomic theory in 1803. In this lesson, we will
present the original Greek concept of the atom, and that of Dalton.
The Greek Concept
During the ancient times (around 440 B.C.), many of the “scientists” were
philosophers. They did not prove or disprove ideas using experiments. Rather, they used
good arguments to show that an idea was true. And so, Leucippus used logical reasoning to
support the idea that “all things are basically made up of atoms”. There were no
experiments during his time. Of course, this means that Leucippus did not convince some
philosophers. Those who agreed with Leucippus were called “atomists”. One of the first atomists
was Democritus. He was a student of Leucippus. Later on, another scientist-philosopher, Epicurus,
improved the “atomos” concept.
philosophers. They did not prove or disprove ideas using experiments. Rather, they used
good arguments to show that an idea was true. And so, Leucippus used logical reasoning to
support the idea that “all things are basically made up of atoms”. There were no
experiments during his time. Of course, this means that Leucippus did not convince some
philosophers. Those who agreed with Leucippus were called “atomists”. One of the first atomists
was Democritus. He was a student of Leucippus. Later on, another scientist-philosopher, Epicurus,
improved the “atomos” concept.