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Development of The Concept Atomism 3

This document summarizes the evolution of the concept of atomism from ancient times to today. It discusses how ancient Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus first proposed the idea that all matter is composed of indivisible particles called atoms. It then outlines various ancient Greek thinkers' non-atomistic views, before describing how the study of alchemy developed among civilizations like the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, and Arabs/Muslims. Finally, it discusses how Western alchemy both contributed to and hampered scientific thought as alchemists sought to transform metals and discover the philosopher's stone.

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Abegail Gabine
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286 views

Development of The Concept Atomism 3

This document summarizes the evolution of the concept of atomism from ancient times to today. It discusses how ancient Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus first proposed the idea that all matter is composed of indivisible particles called atoms. It then outlines various ancient Greek thinkers' non-atomistic views, before describing how the study of alchemy developed among civilizations like the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Chinese, Indians, and Arabs/Muslims. Finally, it discusses how Western alchemy both contributed to and hampered scientific thought as alchemists sought to transform metals and discover the philosopher's stone.

Uploaded by

Abegail Gabine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW THE CONCEPT OF ATOMISM

EVOLVE FROM ANCIENT TIME


UNTIL TODAY
Atom – smallest indivisible particle of a matter.
ATOMISM – the idea/concept that all matter is composed of smallest particle
that cannot be changed nor destroyed.
Leucippus and Democritus
 Were two of the most important theorists about the natural and physical
world.
 They were called physicists in Ancient Greece
 They considered the idea of atomism
Principles of Atomism
 Atoms make up most of the things in the universe; where there are no
atoms, there is a void.
 Atoms are incredibly small and cannot be divided, hence atomos
 Atoms themselves are solid, homogenous and cannot change.
 Atoms moving about and colliding in the void cause the changes we see in
our universe.
 The shapes, sizes and weights of individual atoms influence the
characteristics of the thing they make up. (sharp atoms cause our tongues to
tear and make bitter or sour tastes, and atoms that compose clay are joined by
flexible joints which harden when the clay is baked).

Many correct scientific ideas are unpopular or often disregarded. People have their own
tradition and beliefs w
Chemistry is the science of the composition of matter, its properties and
characteristics, and the changes it undergoes. It is often called central science
because it connects the physical life, and applied science. But before it became
important branch of science, it had a rather scientific history.

NON-ATOMISTIC VIEWS OF GREEK

Anaxagoras - Philosopher that argued that there was an infinite number


of elementary natural substances in the form of infinitesimally small
particles that combined to comprise the different things in the universe.
Empedocles – Philosopher who stated that everything is made up of four eternal and
unchanging kinds of matter fire, air (all gases), water (all liquids and metals) and earth
(all solids).

Plato – Each of the four kinds of matter is composed of geometrical solids (Platonic solids)
further divisible into triangles.
Aristotle – four elements could be balanced in substances in an infinite number of ways,
and that when combined gave proportions of “essential qualities”, hot, dry, cold and wet.
Transformations between the four elements caused changes in the universe.

GROWTH OF ALCHEMY AMONG DIFFERENT CIVILIZATION

Our concept of matter didn’t advance much during this time, the practical
aspect of dealing with substances, matter and materials flourished in different
civilizations before and after the Greeks.
Alchemy
– a science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing
ordinary metals into gold.
- From the Arabic/Greek word alkimiya or “the art of transmuting”
Mesopotamians
- Had techniques to utilize metals like gold and
copper
- Assigned certain symbols to match metals
with the heavenly bodies such as Sun and
moon.
- Made use of the other materials such as dyes,
paints, and perfumes.
Egyptians
- Adapted techniques from the Mesopotamians
and perfected the use of bronze, dye and glass
that the Greeks later copied.
Chinese
- Had their own processes for metalwork and
ceramic materials
- Focused on finding minerals, plants and
substances that could prolong life
- Some of the substances discovered in Chinese
medicine have been found actual positive
effects while others were found useless or even
harmful, like mercury.
Indians
- Like Chinese, had a kind of alchemy (rasayana) that looked at different
substances and practices for Vedic medicine. This is tied closely to Hindu
and Buddhist beliefs.
- Perfected the use of iron and steel
- Well-known manufacturers of dyes, glass, cement, solutions for textiles,
and soap.
Arabs and Muslims
- Enriched not only the practice but also the literature of chemistry
- Jabir Ibn-Hayyan “Geber” – translated the practices and Aristotelian
thinking of the Greeks and wrote extensively on how metals can be purified.
He came up with the preparation od scids such as nitric, hydrochloric and
sulfuric acids, as well as aqua regia (nitro-hydrochloric acid).
WESTERN ALCHEMY
The field of alchemy became popular in the Western world because of Aristotle’s
ideas on the elements and the techniques developed by other civilizations.
Alchemists tried to play with the balance of the four elements (fire, water, air,
earth) and three principles (salt, sulfur and mercury) to transform or transmute
substances. Among their aims was to try and transform “impure” or “base”
metals like lead or iron into the “purer” metals of silver or gold, discover a magical
“Philosopher’s Stone,” and produce the so-called “Elixir of Life.” With a T-chart,
distinguish how alchemy both contributed to and hampered scientific thought.

Protoscience
- An unscientific field of study which later developed into real science (e.g
astrology toward astronomy).
- Also called “emerging science” or “near science”
Pseudoscience
- Consists of statements, beliefs or practices that are claimed to be scientific
and factual, in the absence of evidence gathered and constrained by
appropriate scientific method.

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