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The Concept of the Atom

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Atoms, Molecules and Photons

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Abstract

Our present knowledge about the size and internal structure of atoms is the result of a long development of ideas and concepts that were initially based both on philosophical speculations and on experimental hints, but were often not free of errors. Only during the 19th century did the increasing number of detailed and carefully planned experiments, as well as theoretical models that successfully explained macroscopic phenomena by the microscopic atomic structure of matter, could collect sufficient evidence for the real existence of atoms and therefore convinced more and more scientists. However, even around the year 1900, some well-reputed chemists, such as Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932), and physicists, e.g., Ernst Mach (1838–1916), still doubted the real existence of atoms. They regarded the atomic model as only a working hypothesis that could better explain many macroscopic phenomena, but should not be taken as reality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Kaiserslautern, FB Physik, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 46, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Professor Dr. Wolfgang Demtröder

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  1. Professor Dr. Wolfgang Demtröder
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Correspondence to Wolfgang Demtröder .

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Demtröder, W. (2010). The Concept of the Atom. In: Atoms, Molecules and Photons. Graduate Texts in Physics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10298-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10298-1_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-10297-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-10298-1

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