Atomistic Theory (Noun)
Meaning
(chemistry) any theory in which all matter is composed of tiny discrete finite indivisible indestructible particles; "the ancient Greek philosophers Democritus and Epicurus held atomic theories of the universe".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The ancient Greek philosopher Democritus developed an atomistic theory of matter that remained influential for centuries.
- Modern atomic theory emerged in the early 19th century as a natural extension of Dalton's theory of the composition of chemical compounds.
- In contrast to ancient Greek philosophers who had atomistic theories, Plato believed that the world is composed of abstract mathematical objects rather than particles.
- An atomistic theory is fundamental to our modern understanding of the physical properties and chemical reactivity of materials.
- One weakness of traditional atomistic theory was that it had difficulty explaining why different chemical elements seemed to exhibit characteristic colors.