Democritus' Atomic Theory
Democritus proposed that matter is composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms. This early idea laid the groundwork for the later development of atomic theory.
400 BCE
350 BCE
Aristotle's Four Elements
Aristotle introduced the concept of matter being composed of four elements: earth, water, air, and fire. This idea dominated Western thought for centuries.
1661
Robert Boyle's "The Sceptical Chymist"
Robert Boyle published "The Sceptical Chymist," challenging the Aristotelian view of elements and laying the foundation for modern chemistry.
1789
Antoine Lavoisier's Law of Conservation of Mass
Antoine Lavoisier formulated the Law of Conservation of Mass, stating that matter is neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions.
1803
John Dalton's Atomic Theory
John Dalton proposed that elements are made of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms, each with a specific weight, advancing the concept of matter.
1869
Dmitri Mendeleev's Periodic Table
Dmitri Mendeleev created the Periodic Table, organizing elements based on their atomic weights and properties, which enhanced the understanding of matter's structure.
1897
Discovery of the Electron
J.J. Thomson discovered the electron, revealing that atoms were divisible and had internal structure, furthering the concept of matter.
1911
Rutherford's Nuclear Model
Ernest Rutherford proposed the nuclear model of the atom, with a dense nucleus surrounded by electrons, refining the understanding of atomic structure.
1913
Bohr's Model of the Atom
Niels Bohr introduced a model of the atom with electrons orbiting the nucleus in fixed paths, explaining atomic emission spectra.
1926
Schrödinger's Wave Mechanics
Erwin Schrödinger developed wave mechanics, describing electrons as wave functions, which revolutionized the concept of atomic and molecular structure.
1932
Discovery of the Neutron
James Chadwick discovered the neutron, completing the basic understanding of atomic particles and enhancing the concept of matter.
1947
Discovery of the Transistor
The invention of the transistor by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley revolutionized electronics and material science.
1964
Quark Model Proposed
Murray Gell-Mann and George Zweig proposed the quark model, explaining the substructure of protons and neutrons, refining the concept of matter at a fundamental level.
1985
Discovery of Fullerenes
The discovery of fullerenes, a new form of carbon, by Harold Kroto, Robert Curl, and Richard Smalley expanded the understanding of carbon's versatility.
2012
Discovery of the Higgs Boson
The discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN confirmed the mechanism that gives mass to elementary particles, a critical development in the concept of matter.
2020
Advancements in Quantum Computing
Significant progress in quantum computing demonstrated the manipulation of matter at quantum levels, opening new possibilities for technology and material science.
