Matter, Atoms from Democritus to Dalton

Name ______Date ______Hour ______

Notes from:

“Matter, Atoms from Democritus to Dalton”

The article you are about to read,“Matter, Atoms from Democritus to Dalton”, is a history of the development of the theory we use today to describe atoms and how they bond to form matter. Atoms are the smallest particles of elements that combine to form EVERYTHING that exists that is matter (not energy). You and one other person will be reading part of the article together. Your partner will change frequently. Share as much information as possible in the time you are given with your current partner.You will highlight important people, new or important concepts, unfamiliar or important words, definitions, and theories that contributed to the modern atomic theory we use today. This is a guided tour. You will be given clues and hints to help you navigate this article! Please fill in this paper as you read withyour partners.

1. Empedocles: Use the first letter listed below to list the four “elements” Empedocles thought were responsible for all matter.
2. F
3. W
4. A
5. E

What was one problem Empedocles encountered in describing matter?

1. Democritus:
2. Democritus’ ideas were based on ______instead of ______.

1. What name did Democritus give the “infinitesimal” small pieces of matter?

1. What does “atomos” mean?

1. What does infinitesimal mean?

1. Why do you think Democritus’ ideas were not accepted?

1. How many years did it take for Democritus to get credit for his ideas?

1. Evangelista Torricelli
2. Torricelli was a student of ______!

1. What important idea about air did Torricelli proclaim?

1. What did Torricelli invent?

1. What problem did Torricelli’s idea pose?

1. Daniel Bernoulli
2. Bernoulli developed the idea that air and other gases (HINT: explain Bernoulli’s idea)

1. Why can’t we feel gases?

1. Bernoulli reasoned that if these particles were not in constant motion (complete this thought)

1. These particles are constantly ______off one another.

1. These collisions produce ______!

1. Joseph Priestley
2. Priestley’s discovery revealed that (finish the theory)

1. What two substances combine to form red calx?

1. Antoine Lavoisier
2. What does oxygen mean in Greek?

1. Lavoisier’s theory about oxygen and acids was incorrect but he knew that metals reacted with acids to form a flammable gas he called ______.

1. Hydrogen comes from the Greek words ______.

1. Which law did Lavoisier establish?

1. State the law of conservation of mass:

1. John Dalton
2. Preceding John Dalton, Priestley and Lavoisier demonstrated that some substances could

______with others to form ______; other substances

could be broken apart to form ______ones; and a few key “______”

could not be broken down any further.

1. Identify and briefly describe the four main concepts of Dalton’s theory:
2. All

1. All

1. Chemical

1. When

1. Elements

1. Atoms

1. Compounds

1. Molecules

1. John Proust

1. Definite proportions