Define dalton atomic theory

Dalton’s atomic theory was a scientific theory on the nature of matter put forward by the English physicist and chemist John Dalton in the year 1808. It stated that all matter was made up of small, indivisible particles known as ‘atoms’. The postulates and limitations of Dalton’s atomic theory are listed below.

Postulates of Dalton’s Atomic Theory

• All matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms.
• All atoms of a specific element are identical in mass, size, and other properties. However, atoms of different element exhibit different properties and vary in mass and size.
• Atoms can neither be created nor destroyed. Furthermore, atoms cannot be divided into smaller particles.
• Atoms of different elements can combine with each other in fixed whole-number ratios in order to form compounds.
• Atoms can be rearranged, combined, or separated in chemical reactions.