Video Transcript
Which of the following ideas was not supported by Dalton’s solid sphere model of the atom? (A) All elements are made of atoms. (B) Atoms can be divided into smaller parts. (C) Atoms of the same element are identical. (D) Atoms can chemically combine to form compounds. Or (E) atoms of one element are never transformed into atoms of another element.
Over the centuries, our understanding of particles of matter has changed as we’ve discovered more about what matter is made from. The question mentions Dalton’s solid sphere model of the atom. John Dalton, one of the scientists among the many scientists and philosophers that proposed models about the atom, proposed his own theory. He proposed that each element is composed of extremely small indivisible particles called atoms. Before we continue looking at Dalton’s model, the question asked, which of the following ideas was not supported by Dalton’s solid sphere model?
We can see that statement (A) all elements are made of atoms is part of Dalton’s model, and so this cannot be the answer. He said that these atoms are indivisible and resemble solid spheres without any subatomic particles. We can see then that statement (B) atoms can be divided into smaller parts must be our answer. The statement was an idea not supported by Dalton, although today we know that the statement in (B) is true. Atoms can be divided into smaller parts, the subatomic particles.
Dalton also said all atoms of an element are identical and are different to the atoms of another element. We can rule out answer (C) atoms of the same element are identical. This statement is supported by Dalton. The scientist proposed that atoms of an element cannot be transformed into atoms of another element and they cannot be created or destroyed. This is what statement (E) is saying, and so we can rule out answer option (E).
Lastly, Dalton said compounds are formed when different atoms combine together and that product compounds contain the same number of atoms as the reactants. Therefore, we can also rule out answer option (D) that atoms can chemically combine to form compounds as this idea is supported by Dalton’s theory.
Finally, which of the following ideas was not supported by Dalton’s solid sphere model of the atom? The answer is (B) atoms can be divided into smaller parts.
