Explain Dalton’s atomic theory (4 postulates)

Certainly! Dalton's atomic theory, proposed by the English chemist John Dalton in the early 19th century, laid the foundation for modern atomic theory. It consists of four main postulates:

Elements are made of indivisible particles called atoms: Dalton proposed that all matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms. According to him, atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter and cannot be created, divided, or destroyed in chemical reactions.
All atoms of a given element are identical: Dalton suggested that all atoms of the same element are identical in mass, size, and chemical properties. This postulate implies that the atoms of one element differ from those of other elements.
Atoms combine in simple, whole-number ratios to form compounds: Dalton proposed that atoms combine with each other in fixed, simple, whole-number ratios to form compounds. This means that the ratio of the number of atoms of each element in a compound is always a simple whole number.
Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms: According to Dalton, in a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to form new compounds, but they are neither created nor destroyed. The total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products, demonstrating the law of conservation of mass.
While Dalton's atomic theory has been modified and expanded upon with the advancement of scientific knowledge, these postulates provided a significant framework for understanding the nature of matter at the atomic level.