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What is the meaning of Atoms ?
An atom is the basic building block of an element and a compound. All the matter in the universe is made of tiny particles known as atoms. In nature, 92 different kinds of atoms are present. These atoms combine with one another to form different kinds of matter.
For example, Gold is made up of only gold atoms. When the matter is made of only one kind of atom, it is called an element. An atom consists of electrons and a compact nucleus of protons and neutrons.
In 1808, John Dalton proposed his atomic theory consisting of five points.
1. Elements are composed of tiny little particles known as atoms.
2. Atoms of the same element are identical to each other, and atoms of different elements are different.
3. Atoms cannot be created, modified, or destroyed.
4. Atoms of different elements combine in whole-number ratios to form chemical compounds.
5. In chemical reactions, atoms are combined, separated, and rearranged.
In modern science, all points of the atomic theory are not true. The atoms of the same element are not exactly identical every-time, there can be variations in the number of neutrons that change the mass and other properties. Also, the atoms can be divided during the nuclear reaction (fission) to form smaller atoms, or combine together (fusion) to form larger atoms.