INTRODUCTION

John Dalton was an English chemist, physicist and meteorologist. He

is best known for introducing the atomic theory into chemistry and for
his research into colour blindness, sometimes referred to as Daltonism
in his honour. Dalton was the first scientist to use the term atom for
the smallest particle of matter which originated from the Greek word
“atoms” meaning cannot be divided further, which lead to atomic
theory.
John Dalton proposed his atomic theory in 1808 based on
various laws of chemical combination. The theory was well accepted
at that time because it explains laws of chemical combination. The
theory was based on the law of conservation of mass, law of multiple
proportions and law of definite proportions.
Dalton atomic theory states that:
1. Matter that is made of tiny indivisible particles called atoms.
2. Atom can neither be created nor destroyed.
3. Atoms Atoms of the same element are similar in all respect
4. Atoms of different elements can combine in simple whole number
ratios to form compound.
5. In chemical reactions, atom are combined, separated or rearranged

ANSWERS
MODIFICATION OF DALTON ATOMIC THEORY
Dalton’s atomic theory had to be modified after mass
spectrometry experiments demonstrated that atoms or the same
element. The modification of Dalton atomic theory and explanation
are as follows:
1. Matter is made up of small indivisible particles called atoms:
Atoms are small particles that take part in chemical reaction.
 Atoms can however no longer be regarded as indivisible because
according to Rutherford’s discovery, atom is made up of three
main sub-atomic particle called PROTONS, NEUTRONS AND
ELECTRONS.
2. Atoms of the same elements are similar in all respect and differ
from atoms of all other elements: The discovery of isotopes
contradicts this statement, it has shown that all atom of an element
are not exactly alike in all respect, some varies in their masses and
densities. Taking chlorine as an instance, it has two isotopes with
mass numbers 35 and 37.
3. Atoms can neither be created nor destroyed: This statement is still
acceptable for ordinary chemical reaction but the discovery of
radioactivity has shown that atoms can be created and destroyed.
4. Atoms of different elements can combine in simple whole number
ratios to form compound. This is not observed in complex organic
In chemical reactions atoms are combined or re-arranged. It says
compound like sugar (C12 H2 O11) because organic compounds
could be in large whole number ratios.
CONCLUSION
Although Dalton Atomic theory was once accepted but it was now
modified due to eligible fact gotten from further experiments from
different scientist such as Rutherford etc. of the existence of sub-
atomic particles, isotope, radioactivity, complex compound and
allotrope. The Atomic theory is no longer accepted and useful in
sciences today.
Reference
1. Charles Adophe Wurtz (1881) the atomic theory. D. Appleton
2. J.P Millington (1906). John Dalton (htts.
Archieve.org/details/internet dili.2005. 309241)
M.Dent, E.P. Dalton
3. htts:/en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? tittle = Atomic theory oldid =
102 9871593
4. htts: 11 courses.