Within these lectures he discussed his research on gases and liquids. This research gave remarkable new insight into the nature of gases. Thus became know as the Atomic Theory. The Atomic Theory states that: “all matter is made up of atoms which are indivisible and indestructible, all atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties, compounds are formed by a combination of two or more different kinds of atoms, and a chemical reaction is a rearrangement of atoms” (Atomic Theory). Though most of this theory has held true we now know that atoms of the same element can have different masses and that atoms can be destroyed or subdivided in nuclear reactions. In 1803, Dalton published his Law of Partial Pressures, which states that in “a mixture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases” (Famous). His interest in gases led him to the study of atoms. In 1808 he published A New System of Chemical Philosophy, which contained Dalton’s Law. Dalton’s Law states that “if two elements form more than one compound between them, then the ratios of the masses of the second element which combine with a fixed mass of the first element will be ratios of small whole numbers”
Within these lectures he discussed his research on gases and liquids. This research gave remarkable new insight into the nature of gases. Thus became know as the Atomic Theory. The Atomic Theory states that: “all matter is made up of atoms which are indivisible and indestructible, all atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties, compounds are formed by a combination of two or more different kinds of atoms, and a chemical reaction is a rearrangement of atoms” (Atomic Theory). Though most of this theory has held true we now know that atoms of the same element can have different masses and that atoms can be destroyed or subdivided in nuclear reactions. In 1803, Dalton published his Law of Partial Pressures, which states that in “a mixture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the individual gases” (Famous). His interest in gases led him to the study of atoms. In 1808 he published A New System of Chemical Philosophy, which contained Dalton’s Law. Dalton’s Law states that “if two elements form more than one compound between them, then the ratios of the masses of the second element which combine with a fixed mass of the first element will be ratios of small whole numbers”