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500
Democritus
He discovered many outlines to what atoms were and their characteristics. He stated that all substances are made up of transparent particles known as atoms, that they were unbreakable, that they were set but invisible, that they varied in size, shape, mass, position and positioning. He discovered that a solid was made up of small angled atoms, whereas a liquid was made up of round atoms. He also found out that oils contained atoms that were delicate and could slide past each-other easily. -
500
Democritus
Democritus was born around 460BC and he passed away around 370BC. He was believed to live as a resident of Abdera, but he was also suspected to live in Miletus.Democritus, along with Leucippus, adopted the idea that atoms existed. He stated that all matter was made up of microscopic, unbreakable components called atoms.Democritus’ most outstanding discovery in his lifetime would have to be the atom. -
500
Aristotle
Aristotle didn’t really make any advances in atomic theory, if anything he delayed it! He ignored Democritus’ theory that atoms existed; instead he said that four elements contributed to make up everything in the world (fire, water, earth and air). Aristotle’s arrogance and beliefs spread out more realistically than those of Democritus’ and therefore his idea was set in stone. It wasn’t until around 2000 years later that scientists proved Democritus’ theory correct! -
500
Aristotle
Aristotle was born in 384 BC in Greece, but passed away in 322 BC. He studied and lived in Greece for most his life!Aristotle didn’t really experiment or discover anything in the world in his lifespan. He just studied on what was already known, although he did argue and preach his beliefs on the world. -
John Dalton
John Dalton was born on the 6th of September 1766 & he passed away on the 27th of July in 1844 with over 40’000 people attending his funeral! Whilst he was still standing he lived in England.He focused mainly on Meteorology in his lifetime; he experimented with his observations and published them for the public to see. This intense interest in Meteorology soon led to another interest, Atomism. John discovered colour blindness; still know as “Daltonism” in some parts of the world today. -
John Dalton
He also discovered that that the chemicals in the air were controlled by a mechanical system articulated by microscopic particles that excreted pressure applied by the chemicals separately.
John Dalton said that “ elements consisted of tiny particles called atoms.” He found out that an element is pure because all the atoms in a element are indistinguishable, that all elements are unalike because of their variables in mass -
J.J Thomson
J.J Thomson was born in Cheetham Hill on the 18th of December in 1856 and he died on the 30th of August in 1940, he lived in Manchester, England.He experimented and later discovered that he could bring apart different kinds of atoms and molecules through the use of positive ray.He discovered that atoms consisted of positively and negatively charged particles. He also discovered electrons and observed that atoms could be divided. -
J.J Thomson
J.J Thomson gave a better understanding of the atom and what it consists of. He discovered that electrons, in the atom, are surrounded by positive charges to balance out the negative charges. He gave a better idea to the atom that has helped modern atomic scientists immensely. -
Max Planck
Max discovered the quanta, a revolutionary discovery discharged from a resonator.This discovery of his pointed physics and atomic theory in a positive direction at the time. He will forever and always be remembered as a great scientist. -
Max Planck
Max Planck’s was born on the 23rd of April 1858 and died on the 4th of October 1947. He lived in Germany, during the Holocaust, which he was caught up in.He experimented on the wavelengths in atoms, and deducted a connection between the energy and rate of occurrence of radiation. -
Marie Curie
Marie Curie, born on the 7th of November in 1867 and died on July the 4th 1934, lived in Poland and France for most of her life.She experimented with uranium rays, as she was interested in them, eventually discovering two elements chemical components.The chemical known as polonium was discovered in July 1898. In late December 1898 another chemical known as radium was discovered by Marie and her husband, who were both interested in chemical conditions. -
Marie Curie
Marie, with the help of her husband, progressed atomic theory by discovering and disproving Dalton’s theory. She found that an atom was in fact, divisible; this helped scientists today, giving them a greater understanding of the structure of an atom. Her great understanding of chemical elements also advanced the way we control and use them, she discovered that radium was toxic, and wasn’t to be messed with. -
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford was born on the 30th of August in 1871 and died on the 19th of October in 1937. He lived in four different locations, England, the U.K, New Zealand and Nelson throughout his life.He first conducted research relating to the magnetic properties of iron exposed to high-frequency oscillations.Ernest discovered that the only part of the atom is the atomic nucleus; this negates Democritus’ and contradicted J.J Thomson’s atomic model known as the “Plum pudding model.” -
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford changed the way atoms were looked at. He had theories that the atom had a positive nucleus that was encircled by negative electrons. He disproved Democritus’ theory by saying the only part of an atom, that was solid, was the nucleus. He said that rest of the an atom was mainly just empty space. -
Lise Meitner
Lise was born in Austria on the 7th of November 1878, but tragically passed on the 27th of October 1968. She lived in Vienna, Berlin and Copenhagen throughout her 98-year lifespan. It was whilst experimenting that that she noticed what she calls the “Nuclear fission”. It was a chain reaction started from a neutron. -
Lise Meitner
Nuclear fission was Lise Meitner’s and Otto Hahn main discovery throughout their lives. This was a an action where the atom would split, using Uranium.
Nuclear fission helped modern society today immensely! We wouldn’t have any electricity in or homes without it. Lise did a great deal to help all the people in the future! -
Neil's Bohr
Neil’s Bohr, born on the 7th of October 1885 and dying on the 18th of November, lived in Copenhagen Denmark for most of his life.Neil benefited greatly by continuing the experimental work under J.J Thompsons. He also studied under Rutherford, which led to his theory that electrons circle around the atom’s nucleus. -
Neil's Bohr
During his experiments on the structure of the atom, he discovered that electrons travelled around the nucleus in three different layers known as the 1st shell, the 2nd shell and the 3rd shell.
Bohr has shown, with his atomic model, that electrons travel around the nucleus in three different currents/shells. This is still used to clarify the physical and chemical attributes of elements. It helped scientists to understand how elements combine and created a more theoretical aspect of an atom. -
Erwin Schrodinger
But because they didn’t know if the atom had decomposed or not, then they concluded the atom was both non-decayed and perished, along with the cat. His experiment didn’t work out to his expectations.His greatest discovery would be his wave equation, it describes the inside of an atom shifts around.He helped scientists today with his atomic theory by describing how the electrons in the atom move as a wave. His atomic model also states that the electrons move in an orbit around the nucleus. -
Erwin Schrodinger
Erwin Schrödinger was born in August 12th in 1887 and died in January 4th in 1961. He lived in Vienna, Austria but he also had a citizenship in Ireland.Schrodinger’s most memorable experiment was that a cat could be alive and dead at the same time! His experiment consisted of a cat in a box, with a deadly poison inside and a radioactive atom. He thought that, once the box was closed, the radioactive atom would smash the glass containing the poison, therefore killing the cat. -
Henry Moseley
Henry Moseley was born and raised in England, the 23rd of November 1887. He lived in England but only for 28 years when he passed away on the 10th of August 1915.Henry experimented in 1912 on β-particles and later on, through his experience in atomic theory, proved and had examples of Neil’s theory to be a fact, and not just fictional theory. -
Henry Moseley
Moseley uncovered that the wave lengths in X-rays and the atomic number in metals shared a bond. This helped him contribute to the periodic table, it would not be the same without him.
Moseley’s contribution to atomic theory consists of the atomic number of X-ray chemical elements. He helped elaborate on the periodic table, making it more accurate and useful to modern day scientists. -
James Chadwick
James Chadwick was born in England 20th in October 1891. He passed away on the 24th of July 1974. He undertook a series of experiments in 1932. One of which involved protruding alpha particles at Beryllium. He was trying to create neutrons, which would eventually create protons through a series of events.Chadwick proved the actuality of what we call the neutron (a particle that doesn’t emit a positive (proton) or negative (electron) charge. -
James Chadwick
James had originally thought that the atom contained neutrons, he created the atomic number, which represents the number of protons in an element, and he proved that the neutron did exist! Through his experiments and discoveries, this is what Chadwick contributed to the future of Atomic theory and atomists in general. -
Louis Broglie
Louis de Broglie, born in France, lived from the 15th of August 1892 until the 19th of March 1987. Unlike Henry Moseley, Louis lived a fair life of 95 years! He studied and lived in France for most of his life.Louis experimented with electrons, hoping to discover something, hoping to be recognized. It wasn’t until 1929 that he was acknowledged. -
Louis Broglie
His most famous discovery was the electrons moved like a wave, explaining some of the responsibilities of electrons, and why they’re needed in an atom.
He contributed to atomic theory by setting the boundaries for “Wave mechanic theory.” It developed and advanced the physical aspect of the atom, according to the atomic calibration. -
Werner Heisenberg
Werner discovered that the electrons in an atom didn’t manoeuvre in precise orbits. He also stated that all electrons contained photons, which contradicted and changed the course of each individual electron.
Heisenberg helped calculate the behaviour of electrons and what they’re made up of. He contributed to the structure of an atom, by having a better understanding on electrons and how they circulate. -
Werner Heisenberg
Werner Heisenberg was born in 1901 on the 5th of December, and died on the 1st of February 1976 due to cancer. He lived in Germany since the day he was born.He did experiments on quantum physics and mechanics, but his experiments on the behaviour on electrons led him to come up with the “ Uncertainty Principle.” -
Murray Gell-Mann
Murray Gell-Mann was given birth in September the 15th 1929 and still lives today! He’s lived around the United States for all of his life so far.He experimented with protons and neutrons (the familiar particles) and he discovered hundreds more particles! -
Murray Gell-Mann
The “Quark” has made a magnificent contribution to Murray Gell-Mann as a scientist. He came up with the quark (a quick point of energy), he states that every proton and neutron holds 3 quarks within them.
Murray discovering the quark was enough to contribute to what we know about atoms today. We now know more about atoms and what they contain, what they’re made up of.
