What is an atomic therory?

Answer 1

Atomic theory is the scientific concept that matter is composed of discrete units called atoms, which are the fundamental building blocks of all substances. It originated in ancient Greece with philosophers like Democritus and was later developed in the 19th century by scientists such as John Dalton, who proposed that atoms combine in fixed ratios to form compounds. Modern atomic theory incorporates quantum mechanics, demonstrating that atoms consist of a nucleus surrounded by electrons and that they exhibit both particle and wave properties. This framework underpins much of chemistry and physics, explaining the behavior of matter at the microscopic level.