Dalton Collecting Marsh-Fire Gas

Dalton collecting Marsh-Fire Gas mural by Ford Madox Brown. John Dalton (1766-1844) was an English chemist, meteorologist and physicist. Though he is best known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory he began a meteorological diary in 1787 in which he entered more than 200, 000 observations. In 1794, he postulated that shortage in color perception was caused by discoloration of the liquid medium of the eyeball. Since both he and his brother were color blind, he recognized that this condition must be hereditary. Daltonism became a common term for color blindness. In the early 1800's he began his life's work culminating in his atomic theory that consists of five main points; 1) elements are made of extremely small particles called atoms, 2) atoms of a given element are identical in size, mass, and other properties, thus atoms of different elements differ in size, mass, and other properties, 3) atoms cannot be subdivided, created, or destroyed, 4) atoms of different elements combine in simple whole-number ratios to form chemical compounds, and 5) in chemical reactions, atoms are combined, separated, or rearranged. Dalton used his own symbols to visually represent the atomic structure of compounds. These have made it in New System of Chemical Philosophy where Dalton listed a number of elements, and common compounds. Many of the first compounds listed in the New System of Chemical Philosophy correspond to modern views, although many others do not. He suffered a minor stroke in 1837, and a second one in 1838 that left him with a speech impediment. In 1844 he fell from his bed and was found lifeless by his attendant

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1766 1808 1844 Atomic Blindness Chemical Chemistry Collecting Dalton Meteorologist Meteorology Philosophy Theory

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