Mounting Evidence


Prior to the 1700's, the concept of the atom was just that; a concept. There was no physical evidence that proved the existence of an unbreakable piece of matter. The first modern chemist to look for this physical evidence was Robert Boyle. Boyle was an English chemist who strongly believed in experimentation and what was to become the scientific method. Boyle's first experiments regarding atoms involved gases and air pressure. Boyle worked with seventeen foot long glass tubes that were shaped like the letter 'J'. Boyle poured mercury into the tube until there was a bubble of air trapped in the shorter arm of the tube. Then he added more mercury, and recorded how the air bubble shrunk as the weight of the mercury increased.
The resulting data led to a mathematical equation known as "Boyle's Law". This equation describes the relationship between volume and pressure, but more importantly, it raised a very important question: How could air be compressed? Boyle reasoned that there must be particles of air, and by adding pressure, the particles were forced closer and closer together. Thus, Boyle's simple experiment began the scientific search for the atom.

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