Who were the key figures in atomic theory?

Who were the key figures in atomic theory?

The key figures in atomic theory include John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, and Niels Bohr. Would you like to know more about any of them?

Tell me about John Dalton.

John Dalton was an English chemist who proposed the first modern atomic theory in the early 19th century. He suggested that matter is made up of indivisible atoms and that each element has its own type of atom.

What did J.J. Thomson discover?

J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897 and proposed the 'plum pudding' model of the atom, where electrons are embedded in a positively charged 'soup'.

How did Rutherford change the atomic model?

Ernest Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment in 1909, which led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus, changing the atomic model to include a dense center surrounded by electrons.

What about Niels Bohr?

Niels Bohr developed the Bohr model of the atom in 1913, introducing the idea of quantized energy levels for electrons, which explained atomic stability and spectral lines.