Dalton's atomic theory, proposed by John Dalton in the early 19th century, describes matter as being composed of indivisible particles called atoms. According to Dalton, each element is made up of its own type of atom, and compounds are formed when atoms of different elements combine in fixed ratios.
In the case of a water molecule (H₂O), Dalton's theory would state that:
- Water is a compound made up of two different types of atoms: hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
- A water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, indicating a fixed ratio of 2:1 for hydrogen to oxygen.
- The individual hydrogen and oxygen atoms retain their properties when they combine to form water, but the resulting compound (water) has distinct properties that are different from those of the individual elements.
Overall, Dalton's theory would emphasize the concept of atoms as the fundamental building blocks of matter and the specific composition of molecules derived from them, such as the way hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.
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