-
430 BCE
Democritus
Democritus of Abdera (~460-370 BC)
- Democritus built on the foundation that all matter was made up of smaller,indivisible particles which he called "atomos"
("Democritus (Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy)")
- Fun Fact: Democritus is considered a philosopher instead of a scientist! -
John Dalton
John Dalton (1766-1844)
- Dalton led an experiment where he concluded that mutiple atoms can be combined into compounds. He formed the compound nitric oxide which proved his theory. He built on Democritus's theory where an atom was a solid, indivisible particle. ("John Dalton")
- Fun Fact: John Dalton also studied color blindness. How interesting! -
JJ Thomson
JJ Thomson (1856-1940)
- By using a high vacuum cathode-ray tube, Thomson discovered the electron when he noticed the electric discharge of the particle. Yay electron! ("Thomson Atomic Model")
- Fun Fact: JJ Thomson was knited in 1908. Hail Sir Thomson! -
Robert Milikan
Robert Milikan (1868-1953)
- He accuratly determined the charge of the electron. By using an oil drop, Milikan determined that the electron particle had a negative charge. ("Case Files: Robert A. Millikan")
- Fun Fact: Milikan was an avid golfer and tennis player. But unlike his golf score, his work was definilty not sub-par!
(since his experiment revolved around discovering the electron, I thought it was okay to post an image of his experiment instead... I hope this is acceptable) -
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937)
- Rutherford used a gold foil to theorize the modern molucule. He propsed that the negative charged particles orbited a positive nucleus. ("Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1908")
- Fun Fact: Ernie found that there was at least two types of radiation; alpha and beta radiation. -
Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr (1885-1962)
- Bohr found that the outer shells of the electron orbits could hold more electrons than the inner shells. He also proposed that electrons could produce light by 'jumping' orbits.
("Nobel Prize in Physics 1922")
- Fun Fact: Bohr liked to cause explosions in the university lab. So clumsy! -
Erwin Shrödinger
Erwin Shrödinger (1887-1961)
- Shrödinger theorized that the electron's behavior in the atom could be explained by treating them as waves.
("Quantum Mechanical Model of the Atom (article)")
- Fun Fact: Shrödinger was on an Autrian banknote for almost fifteen years. Also, there is a moon crater named after him. How amazing! -
Werner Heisenburg
Werner Heisenburg (1901-1976)
- Heisenburg developed a new theory, quantum theory, and found the uncertainty principle, which states that you can't determine an electron's exact location at any time ("Werner Heisenberg").
- Fun Fact: Heisenburg worked for the Nazis to develop a nuclear bomb. Also, Walter White's nickname, Heisenburg, was alluded from Werner Heisenburg. Neato! -
James Chadwick
James Chadwick (1891-1974)
- A new sub-atomic particle is discovered! By shooting alpha particles at Berylium, Chadwick realized there was a abnormal level of radiation on the other side of the lead shield. Since the particles had the same mass, but not charge, it led him to mark it as a neutral particle. ("How were neutrons discovered?")
- Fun Fact: The Chad man was a Prisoner of War in WWI. Smorp!