Atomic science began many centuries ago with experimenting and probing into the nature and structure of matter. This began with ancient philosophers and alchemists. Science began emerging with Thales of Miletus (634-546 BC), the Ionian Greek, who described the power of attraction in electricity long before electricity was known.(vce.com)
Atoms and Elements: A Beginning
Elements are the building blocks of matter. The smallest particle of an element that still retains the identity of that element is the atom. All atoms of a given element are identical to one another, but differ from the atoms of other elements. Ancient Greeks first predicted the existence of the atom around 500 BC. They named the predicted particle 'atomos,' meaning "indivisible." (Slowiczek & Peters)
Atom n. A unit of matter, the smallest unit of an element, consisting of a dense, central, positively charged nucleus surrounded by a system of electrons, equal in number to the number of nuclear protons, the entire structure having an approximate diameter of 10-8 centimeter and characteristically remaining undivided in chemical reactions except for limited removal, transfer, or exchange of certain electrons. (Walker)
The Atomic Theory of Matter
c.460 BCE - c.370 BCE The Atom, one of the most important corner stones in the history of Universe and its creation has been defined through several aspects. Different scientists and sciences have contributed to give it its present shape. The Atomic theory took centuries to arrive. From its origin till now it has gone through several changes. Different Philosophies, scientific events and International affairs affected its development.
For the first time the atomic theory was proposed by an early Greek thinker, Democritus. This theory is the basis of today’s Modern Science. According to him this Universe is the product of tiny particles. These particles are very smaller in size so that nothing smaller can exist........
