What Is an Atom? A Complete Guide to the Building Blocks of Matter
What Is an Atom? An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element. Everything around us—from the air we breathe to the stars in the universe—is made of atoms. They are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. The word "atom" comes from the Greek word atomos , meaning "indivisible." While scientists once believed atoms could not be divided, modern physics has shown that atoms are made up of even smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons . Today, atoms are one of the most important concepts in chemistry, physics, biology, and modern technology. The History of Atomic Theory Our understanding of atoms has evolved over thousands of years. Democritus (Around 400 BC) The ancient Greek philosopher Democritus proposed that all matter was made of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms. Although he had no experimental evidence, his idea became the foundation of atomic theory. John Dalton (1803) Britis...