21 Chemistry -- Stoichiometry

Explain Dalton's atomic theory with its postulates. Write down limitation of theory and merits of atomic theory.

Explain Dalton's atomic theory with its postulates. Write down limitation of theory and merits of atomic theory.

John Dalton published a theory describing about the nature and properties of atoms which is called as the Dalton's atomic theory.

The major postulates of Dalton's atomic theory are:

  1. Atom is an indivisible and ultimate part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction.
  2. Atoms are indestructible.
  3. Atoms of the same elements are identical in all respects.
  4. Atoms of different elements are different in all aspects.
  5. Two or more atoms of same or different elements combine together to form compound atoms (now called as molecules).

The limitation of theory are as follows:

  1. This theory requires a lot of modification after the recent discovery of sub-atomic particles such as electron, proton, and neutron.
  2. Atoms can be destroyed during nuclear reactions.
  3. Atoms of same elements are also seen to be different from one another. Example: isotopes.
  4. Atoms of different elements are seen to resemble one another in some aspects. Example: isobars.

The merits of this theory are:

  1. Laws of stoichiometry are built in accordance with Dalton's atomic thoery which has helped to perform a lot of chemical calculations.
  2. Dalton differentiated between atoms and compounds as atoms and compound-atoms.

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