Which of the following statements best describes Dalton's atomic theory?

• A. All matter is composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms, which cannot be created or destroyed in chemical reactions.
• B. Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• C. Atoms of the same element can have different masses due to the presence of isotopes.
• D. Atoms can be split into smaller particles during chemical reactions.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Dalton's atomic theory was one of the earliest models to describe the nature of matter at the atomic level.
2. Recall that Dalton proposed that all matter is made up of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms, which are the fundamental building blocks of matter.
3. Recognize that according to Dalton, atoms cannot be created, destroyed, or transformed into atoms of another element during chemical reactions; they only rearrange.
4. Note that Dalton's theory did not include the internal structure of atoms (protons, neutrons, electrons) or the concept of isotopes, as these were discovered later.
5. Therefore, the statement that best describes Dalton's atomic theory is: 'All matter is composed of small, indivisible particles called atoms, which cannot be created or destroyed in chemical reactions.'