Historical Development of Atomic Theory

  • Democritus - 400BC

    Democritus - 400BC
    Proposed that matter was composed of iny indivisible particles called atomos.
  • John Dalton

    John Dalton
    Proposed "billiard Ball' model- atom is a unifrom soild sphere.
  • JJ Thompson

    JJ Thompson
    Proposed "Plum Pudding" model- atom has a postive sphere (pudding) with negative electrons (plums) dispersed throughtout.
  • Ernest Rutherford

    Ernest Rutherford
    Discovered nucleus of atoms. Proposed 'Nuclear' model- atom has dense, postive nucleus surrounded by negative electrons.
  • Niels Bohr

    Niels Bohr
    Propsed "planetary' nodel- atom has electrons that move in circular orbits within specific energy levels.
  • James Chadwick

    James Chadwick
    Revised 'Nuclear' model- atom has a neutral particles in the nucleus (neutrons).