Summary near end of 1800’s
Atomic Theory appears to explain all of chemistry
- Only a limited number of atoms (periodic Table)
Atomic Theory plus Newton’s mechanics appears to explain existence of gasses. liquids, solids
- Gasses are atoms moving with thermal motion
- Newton’s laws explain why pressure increases with temperature and compression
- Appeared that all would be explained simply by finding the force laws that caused atoms to bind into liquids and solids
BUT was this “true”?
- No one had every “seen” an atom.
- Were they just a figment of man’s imagination?
- What is required to say that atoms exist?
- Do they really obey Newton’s laws?