* Solid: Dalton imagined atoms as tiny, hard balls with no internal structure.
* Indivisible: He believed atoms couldn't be broken down into smaller pieces.
Key Points about Dalton's Model:
* Based on experimental evidence: Dalton's model was based on observations about how elements combine in fixed ratios (Law of Definite Proportions) and how chemical reactions occur.
* Simple and foundational: While simplistic, it laid the groundwork for later atomic models.
* Limitations: It was later found that atoms do have internal structure (protons, neutrons, electrons) and can be broken down through nuclear reactions.
Here's an analogy: Imagine a billiard ball. That's roughly how Dalton pictured an atom – a solid, indivisible sphere.
