On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro
The purpose of this paper is to review the basic steps in the development of the atomic–molecular theory with the support of the original documentation. The most important contributions are examined, from the first intimation of the theory by Dalton to the Avogadro hypothesis, intended to reconcile...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Pier Remigio Salvi |
| author_facet | Pier Remigio Salvi |
| author_sort | Pier Remigio Salvi |
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| description | The purpose of this paper is to review the basic steps in the development of the atomic–molecular theory with the support of the original documentation. The most important contributions are examined, from the first intimation of the theory by Dalton to the Avogadro hypothesis, intended to reconcile empirical relations observed by Gay-Lussac in gaseous reactions with the atomistic ideas. The genesis and the structure of Dalton’s theory are described, and attention is focused on the <i>rules of the greatest simplicity</i> by means of which the relative weights and sizes of elementary and compounds atoms were determined. The first striking achievements are outlined. A peculiar trait of the Daltonian principles is represented by the rejection of a simple relation between specific gravities of elastic fluids and weights of the <i>ultimate particles</i>. On the contrary, the fixed (and small) ratios of reacting volumes in gaseous reactions, a result discovered by Gay-Lussac, suggest that particles combine according to simple numbers. The <i>equal volume/equal number of particles</i> hypothesis was a substitute better than Dalton’s <i>rules</i> for the determination of the atomic weights and led to the prediction of elementary polyatomic molecules. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7b7bbd124494bb099b826a14cea36b4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2409-9252 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Histories |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7b7bbd124494bb099b826a14cea36b42025-08-20T02:42:34ZengMDPI AGHistories2409-92522025-02-0151810.3390/histories5010008On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to AvogadroPier Remigio Salvi0Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, ItalyThe purpose of this paper is to review the basic steps in the development of the atomic–molecular theory with the support of the original documentation. The most important contributions are examined, from the first intimation of the theory by Dalton to the Avogadro hypothesis, intended to reconcile empirical relations observed by Gay-Lussac in gaseous reactions with the atomistic ideas. The genesis and the structure of Dalton’s theory are described, and attention is focused on the <i>rules of the greatest simplicity</i> by means of which the relative weights and sizes of elementary and compounds atoms were determined. The first striking achievements are outlined. A peculiar trait of the Daltonian principles is represented by the rejection of a simple relation between specific gravities of elastic fluids and weights of the <i>ultimate particles</i>. On the contrary, the fixed (and small) ratios of reacting volumes in gaseous reactions, a result discovered by Gay-Lussac, suggest that particles combine according to simple numbers. The <i>equal volume/equal number of particles</i> hypothesis was a substitute better than Dalton’s <i>rules</i> for the determination of the atomic weights and led to the prediction of elementary polyatomic molecules.https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/5/1/8Dalton’s atomic theoryGay-Lussac law of combining volumesAvogadro’s hypothesislaw of multiple proportionsatomic weightselementary polyatomic molecules |
| spellingShingle | Pier Remigio Salvi On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro Histories Dalton’s atomic theory Gay-Lussac law of combining volumes Avogadro’s hypothesis law of multiple proportions atomic weights elementary polyatomic molecules |
| title | On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro |
| title_full | On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro |
| title_fullStr | On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro |
| title_short | On the Birth of Modern Chemistry: I—The Atomic–Molecular Theory from Dalton to Avogadro |
| title_sort | on the birth of modern chemistry i the atomic molecular theory from dalton to avogadro |
| topic | Dalton’s atomic theory Gay-Lussac law of combining volumes Avogadro’s hypothesis law of multiple proportions atomic weights elementary polyatomic molecules |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/5/1/8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pierremigiosalvi onthebirthofmodernchemistryitheatomicmoleculartheoryfromdaltontoavogadro |