What was the effect of Antoine Lavoisier's list of elements on the development of atomic theory?

• A. It introduced the concept of atomic number for each element.
• B. It explained the structure of the atom using the planetary model.
• C. It provided a systematic classification of substances as elements, helping to distinguish elements from compounds.
• D. It led to the discovery of the electron.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context: Antoine Lavoisier is known as the 'Father of Modern Chemistry' for his work in identifying and listing elements as fundamental substances that cannot be broken down further by chemical means.
2. Recognize that Lavoisier's list was one of the first systematic classifications of substances, distinguishing elements from compounds based on experimental evidence rather than philosophical ideas.
3. Note that Lavoisier's work did not involve atomic numbers or the structure of the atom, as these concepts were developed much later with the advancement of atomic theory.
4. Understand that the discovery of the electron and the planetary model of the atom came after Lavoisier's time, through the work of scientists like J.J. Thomson and Niels Bohr.
5. Conclude that Lavoisier's main contribution was providing a clear and systematic list of elements, which laid the foundation for future developments in chemistry and atomic theory by clarifying what constitutes an element.