Chapter U1.11, Problem 11E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The claims made by the ancient Greeks that, atoms were the smallest pieces of matter is to be justified.

Concept introduction:

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is made of elements and compounds which can be imagined to be made of still smaller particles. Scientific knowledge is based on many years of ancient research and experiments.

Answer to Problem 11E

The claims made by Greeks that, atoms were the smallest pieces of matter is not correct because later many scientists proved that atoms can be further divided into still smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. The Greeks said that atoms cannot be further divided but they were later proved wrong.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

Ancient Greek philosophers claimed that matter is made of small bits of particles called atoms.

In 460 B. C. E Greek philosopher Democritus was the first one to suggest that every matter can be broken down to its smallest bit which cannot be further divided. These small particles were later called atoms.

Later in 1803, British scientist John Dalton suggested that all matter is made of atoms.

Since at the time of Dalton, many scientists like Thomson, Rutherford and Bohr have created different models to describe atoms, they proved the presence of sub - atomic particles. An atom has a nucleus made of protons and neutrons, with electrons revolving around the nucleus in fixed paths.

Later in 20^th century came the modern cloud theory which said that electrons move around the nucleus in random paths at very high speed.

Since, the scientific knowledge is based on many years of ancient research and experiments. Over the years as new technologies have developed, scientists gathered evidences and created new models of atoms. The atomic theory has also changed over time.

Therefore, the claims made by Greeks that, atoms were the smallest pieces of matter is not correct.

Conclusion

Long ago, philosophers imagined that matter was made of small particles called atoms. Over several years scientists provided evidences to create several models of atom. An atom is basically made of still smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons.