Which of the following statements is NOT one of the original five postulates of Dalton's atomic theory?

• A. Compounds are formed by the combination of atoms of different elements in fixed, simple ratios.
• B. Atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties.
• C. Atoms cannot be created, divided into smaller particles, or destroyed in chemical reactions.
• D. Atoms can be transformed into energy during radioactive decay.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall Dalton's original five postulates of atomic theory, which describe the nature of atoms and how they behave in chemical reactions.
2. List the key postulates: (1) All matter is made of indivisible atoms, (2) Atoms of the same element are identical in mass and properties, (3) Atoms of different elements differ in mass and properties, (4) Compounds are formed by atoms of different elements combining in fixed, simple ratios, and (5) Atoms cannot be created, divided, or destroyed in chemical reactions.
3. Compare each given statement to these postulates to identify which one does not belong to Dalton's original theory.
4. Notice that the statement 'Atoms can be transformed into energy during radioactive decay' involves nuclear processes, which were discovered after Dalton's time and are not part of his atomic theory.
5. Conclude that the statement about atoms transforming into energy during radioactive decay is NOT one of Dalton's original postulates.