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Correct Answer: john dalton
the correct answer to the question about the first modern scientist who tried to prove that all matter was made of atoms, and that all atoms of one type were identical, is john dalton. dalton, an english chemist and physicist, proposed his atomic theory in the early 19th century, around 1803. this theory laid the foundation for our understanding of chemical science.
dalton's atomic theory included several key ideas: first, that all matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms. second, atoms of a specific element are identical in size, mass, and other properties. third, atoms cannot be created, divided, destroyed, or converted into other types of atoms. fourth, different atoms combine in simple whole-number ratios to form compounds. finally, chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms but do not change the atoms themselves.
dalton's conception of atoms as solid, indivisible spheres was a crucial step in the development of the atomic model. although later scientific advances showed that atoms could indeed be divided into smaller subatomic particles, dalton's work was fundamental in establishing chemistry as a science based on quantitative laws. his work provided the first meaningful explanation of why elements reacted in certain proportions and why those proportions could be used to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions.
dalton's theory of atomic weights and his methodical approach to determining them through experiments with gases, such as hydrogen and oxygen, allowed for a more systematic development of the periodic table, which dmitri mendeleev would eventually formalize later in the century.
overall, john dalton is celebrated for his pioneering theory which transformed ancient ideas of elements as defined by classical philosophers into a testable scientific framework. his model, despite its limitations and the later discovery of subatomic particles, marked a significant advancement in the understanding of the natural world.
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