Science

Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

LESSON 2.1
John Dalton and the Concept of Chemical Elements
Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Learning Competency 2

Learning Objectives 2

Warm-Up 2

Learn about It 4
The Concept of Atoms 4
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 4
The Concept of Chemical Elements 8

Key Points 10

Check Your Understanding 10

Bibliography 13
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Lesson 2.1
John Dalton and the Concept of
Chemical Elements

The aurora borealis (northern lights) are formed when charged particles emitted by solar
flares collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.

Introduction
All existing substances, may it be tangible or intangible, are made up of atoms. Even if
atoms could not be seen by the naked eye, scientists, most especially chemists, consider it
essential to study how a particular substance behaves if combined with other substances
present. In this lesson, we will learn how the study of John Dalton contributed to the
discovery of existing elements?

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Learning Competency
At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning competency should be met
by the students.
● Explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new
elements in the laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIb-11).

Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Point out the main ideas in the discovery of the structure of the atom and
its subatomic particles.
● Cite the contribution of John Dalton toward the understanding of the
concept of the chemical elements.
● Explain how Dalton’s theory contributed to the discovery of other
elements.

Warm-Up

Paper In nity!
An atom is defined by ancient Greeks as the smallest, indivisible piece of material. But
how small is an atom? In this simple activity, you will get to realize how small a paper
could be cut.

Materials
● white clean paper
● scissors

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Procedure
1. Prepare a clean white paper.
2. Cut the paper in half.
3. Continuously cut the paper until it becomes difficult to cut it anymore.

Guide Questions
1. Is it possible to continue cutting the paper in half?
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2. Even if it looks impossible to cut the paper anymore, is it possible to have a physical
limit to the paper as you continuously cut it into half? Why?
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3. What do you think limits you in cutting the paper smaller? Explain your answer.
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4. If the mass of the whole paper and the mass of the paper pieces were to be
compared, would there be significant differences between them? Explain your
answer.
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Learn about It

The Concept of Atoms

The concept of atoms has been studied across ages. It all started when Leucippus and
Democritus had theorized that everything was made up of tiny particles called atomos.
Isaac Newton, a well-known physicist, used the concept of particles to describe his own
theory of light in the 17th century. John Dalton made the very first scientific theory of
atoms, where he considered them as hard spheres or billiard balls.

The concept of atoms had been very robust. Since then, a brilliant French chemist, in the
name of Antoine Lavoisier, formulated the law of conservation of mass using mercury
oxide. This law states that, in an isolated system, mass could neither be created nor
destroyed.

Essential Question
What is the contribution of John Dalton to the development of existing
elements nowadays?

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

John Dalton was an English chemist known for his pioneering work in the development of
atomic theory. In his theory, he proposed that elements differ due to the mass of their
atoms.

Dalton’s atomic theory has three major postulates:

1. Matter is composed of very small, indivisible particles called atoms. Atoms of a
certain element have the same size, mass, and other properties. Atoms of different
elements have different sizes, masses, and properties.
2. In a chemical reaction, atoms may combine, separate, or rearrange but cannot be
created nor destroyed.

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

3. Atoms of the same or different elements may combine with each other in a fixed,
whole-number ratio.

Fig. 1. The postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory

Dalton published his atomic theory in the New System of Chemical Philosophy. Back then,
he needed to propose a new set of standard symbols for chemical elements because the
Greeks’ and alchemists’ symbols for elements were not supported by his theory.

Dalton first published his table of elements according to increasing relative atomic weights.
The elements were hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. He
assumed that the atomic weight of hydrogen was one, and he calculated the rest of the
elements’ atomic weights based on hydrogen. After more experiments conducted by his
colleagues, he listed 20 elements with different symbols and atomic weights.

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Fig. 2. The symbols of John Dalton’s first twenty (20) elements.

In 1806, French chemist Joseph Proust published his law of definite proportions. This law
states that a chemical compound is formed by elements in fixed mass ratios. For example,
carbon monoxide (CO) consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. By mass, carbon
monoxide can be described by the fixed ratio of 12:16 (mass of carbon: mass of oxygen) and
simplified as 3:4.

Expanding on the work of Proust, Dalton developed the law of multiple proportions. This
law was based on Dalton’s observations of the reactions of atmospheric gases. It states that
when two or more elements can form multiple combinations, the ratio of the elements in
those compounds can be expressed in small, whole numbers. For example, carbon and
oxygen can combine to form carbon monoxide, CO, and carbon dioxide, CO2. In CO, the
ratio of carbon to oxygen is 1:1. It is a fixed ratio of whole numbers. In CO2, the fixed ratio is
1:2.

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Dalton used the law of multiple proportions to explain possible combinations of atoms. He
published seventeen combinations in the New System of Chemical Philosophy. He listed the
compounds as binary, ternary, quaternary, quinquenary, sextenary, and septenary.

Fig. 3. Dalton’s list of possible combinations of atoms.

A binary compound is formed by two elements. For example, two atoms of azote (nitrogen)
may combine to form a binary compound.

Fig. 4. Nitrogen gas, a binary compound.

A ternary compound is formed by three atoms. For example, when one atom of nitrogen
combines with two atoms of oxygen, the resulting compound, nitrogen dioxide, is ternary.

Fig. 5. Nitrogen dioxide, a ternary compound.

Similarly, quaternary compounds are made of four atoms; quinquenary, sextenary, and
septenary are made of five, six, and seven, respectively.

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Dalton’s atomic theory had been revised over the years with the discovery of isotopes and
subatomic particles. The following revisions have been incorporated into his atomic theory.

● Atoms are not the smallest part of matter. Subatomic particles such as protons,
neutrons, and electrons exist. These subatomic particles can also be further divided
into quarks.
● Atoms of a certain element do not always have the same mass. Isotopes are atoms
of elements with different numbers of neutrons, so they have different atomic
masses.

The Concept of Chemical Elements

Dalton’s system of naming elements and compounds was then replaced with the chemical
symbols and formulae by Jӧns Berzelius. Berzelius’ symbols are the ones you commonly
use today and what you see in your periodic table.

Even though Dalton’s postulates are no longer used in the modern atomic theory, Dalton’s
atomic theory has been widely recognized because it became the foundation of the modern
concept of the atom.

Following the works of Dalton, Michael Faraday was able to produce two laws of
electrochemistry, Dmitri Mendeleev formulated the periodic table, JJ Thomson determined
the charge to mass ratio of electrons and many more. The recognition of how influential the
work of Dalton is made it possible for all succeeding chemists to postulate and develop
many concepts in chemistry.

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Fig. 6. The elements are represented using Berzelius symbols in the periodic table.

By seeking a way to “weigh” atoms, Dalton’s research initiated the progress of modern
science. His atomic theory laid out the theoretical foundations of chemistry by explaining
the structure of the atoms of simple and complex molecules. Also, his discoveries on the
chemical proportions of compounds led to the cost-efficient manufacturing of chemicals.

Did You Know?

A condition of color-blindness known as Daltonism is named after John
Dalton. In fact, John Dalton himself has this condition and prevented him
from doing experiments. Instead, his ideas and conjectures were purely
observations from works of others. These observations were first released
as The Granger Collection before it became the atomic theory.

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Key Points

● Democritus suggested the existence of the atom, but it took two millennia before
John Dalton placed a solid foothold on it as a fundamental chemical object.
● Dalton’s atomic theory proposed that all matter was composed of atoms,
indivisible, and indestructible building blocks. While all atoms of an element were
identical, different elements have atoms of differing sizes and masses.
● Atoms differ in their masses within one element is called an isotope.
● Dalton’s system of naming elements and compounds was then replaced with the
chemical symbols and formulae by Jӧns Berzelius.

Check Your Understanding

A. Identify what is being asked in the following statements.

_____________ 1. He is an English chemist known for his pioneering work in the

development of atomic theory.

_____________ 2. It is composed of very small, indivisible particles called atoms.

_____________ 3. He is a French chemist who institutionalized the law of definite

proportions.

_____________ 4. It is the type of compound formed when two atoms of azote

(nitrogen) combine.

_____________ 5. This is the type of compound formed when one atom of nitrogen
combines with two atoms of oxygen.

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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

B. Using Dalton’s symbols of elements, draw the symbol for each compound.
1. methane, CH4

2. sulfur dioxide, SO2

3. water, H2O

4. carbon monoxide, CO

5. carbon dioxide, CO2

C. Answer the following questions accordingly.

1. Which notation is easier to memorize, Dalton’s or Berzelius’? Explain.
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

2. What do you think is the main contribution of the discovery of atom’s

subatomic particles?
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3. How did John Dalton’s atomic theory influence the new and existing ideas
regarding chemical elements?
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4. How did the work of Joseph Proust impact John Dalton’s law of multiple
proportions?
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5. How did John Dalton’s work contribute to the discovery of new elements?
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Grade 11/12 • Unit 2: The Discovery and Synthesis of Chemical Elements

Bibliography

Chang, Raymond. 1997. Chemistry. New York: McGraw-Hill.

McQuarrie, D.A., and Rock, P.A. 1991. General Chemistry. 3rd ed. New York: W.H. Freeman.

Mott, Vallerie. “John Dalton and Atomic Theory.” Lumen. Accessed December 3, 2021.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/john-dalton-and-atomic-theor
y/.

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