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In the following years, Dalton dedicated himself to research, becoming a pioneer in different fields of science.
John Dalton and the Atomic Theory
Without a doubt, Dalton’s Atomic Theory is his most recognized work, although several of his ideas later turned out to be not entirely correct, although at the time they meant a crucial advance. Likewise, due to his large number of scientific contributions, he is known as “the father of chemistry.”
Dalton was the first scientist to use the word atom to describe the smallest particle of matter. This term comes from the Greek atomos and means “that cannot be divided any further”. Dalton explained it in his own words: “Matter, though divisible to an extreme degree, is not yet infinitely divisible. That is, there must be some point beyond which we cannot go in the division of matter. I have chosen the word atom to designate these last particles»
According to the Institute for the History of Science, Dalton developed his atomic theory during his meteorological explorations. Through his early experiments, he came to the conclusion that air was a mechanical system. He held that the pressure exerted by each gas in a mixture was independent of the pressure exerted by the other gases. Also, that the total pressure of the mixture is the sum of the pressures of each gas. This observation led him to conclude that “atoms in a mixture were different in weight and complexity.”
Until then, the idea that there were several unique elements, each made up of its own atoms, was a completely new concept, and also quite controversial. Based on these novel hypotheses, he performed other experiments taking into account the concept of atomic weight. This then led him to subsequently make other scientific discoveries in the field of physics and chemistry.
Summary of John Dalton’s Atomic Theory
Dalton’s Atomic Theory outlines five key principles:
- Elements are made up of tiny particles (atoms).
- The atoms of an element are exactly the same size and have the same mass as other atoms of that element.
- Likewise, atoms of different elements have different sizes and masses from each other.
- Atoms cannot be subdivided, nor can they be created or destroyed.
- During chemical reactions, atoms are grouped differently, giving rise to compounds other than the initial ones. They can separate or combine with other atoms.
In addition, he enunciated the “rule of maximum simplicity”, which holds that when atoms combine in a relationship, it is binary.
Other research and work by John Dalton
English grammar
John Dalton published, in 1801, a new system for teaching English grammar, Elements of English Grammar , based on his own experience as a teacher and tutor.
colour blindness
As its name implies, this genetic alteration was named after Dalton, who was color blind and spent several years scientifically investigating color blindness. Until that time, he had never been systematically studied. Since his sister was also color blind, John concluded that color blindness must be genetic. He also believed that color perception could be due to discoloration in the vitreous humor of the eye. Although his theory was discredited in his lifetime, his dedication to the study of color blindness inspired further studies that shed more light on the subject.
Meteorology
Beginning in 1787, he began recording his observations in a meteorological journal, eventually recording more than 200,000 over the next 57 years. In 1793, he published his observations and meteorological essays: Meteorological Observations and Essays .
Dalton rediscovered the Hadley Cell Theory.This theory looked at atmospheric circulation and stated that air consisted of approximately 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. In this way he differed from most of his contemporaries, who thought that air was made up of a single element.
gas laws
By performing other experiments, John Dalton wrote a series of papers describing some gas laws. His law of partial pressure became known as Dalton’s Law . In addition, he published the first table of relative atomic weights of the atoms of the elements, laying the foundations of modern chemistry.
Other published works
During his career, Dalton wrote different scientific works. Some of these were the New System of Chemical Philosophy and the Memoirs of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society . He also published problems and solutions in the Gentlemen’s Diary and Ladies’ Diary magazines .
Awards and distinctions
In 1826 Dalton was awarded the royal medal. He was also awarded the Royal Society of London and Edinburgh Scholarship. In addition, he received an honorary degree from the University of Oxford. He was named an Associate of the French Academy of Sciences and also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Death and DNA analysis
From his youth, Dalton was a tireless researcher. It is believed that up until the day before his death, he was still working on recording a meteorological measurement. On July 27, 1844, his assistant found him dead at his bedside. John Dalton passed away at the age of 77, leaving a valuable legacy for science and humanity.
Per his own instructions, his eyes were preserved. In 1995, a DNA study was carried out on them, which showed that Dalton suffered from deuteranopia, a rare type of color blindness, in which the patient does not distinguish the color green.
