Which of the following is one postulate of Dalton's atomic theory?

• A. Atoms can be created or destroyed during chemical reactions.
• B. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• C. Atoms of different elements can have the same mass.
• D. Atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Dalton's atomic theory is a foundational concept in chemistry that describes the nature of atoms and how they behave in chemical reactions.
2. Recall the key postulates of Dalton's atomic theory, which include ideas about the indivisibility of atoms, the uniqueness of atoms for each element, and how atoms combine in fixed ratios to form compounds.
3. Evaluate each given statement against Dalton's postulates: for example, Dalton stated that atoms cannot be created or destroyed in chemical reactions, so the first statement is incorrect.
4. Recognize that Dalton's theory did not include the internal structure of atoms (protons, neutrons, electrons), so the second statement is not part of his postulates.
5. Identify that Dalton proposed atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties, which matches the correct answer, while atoms of different elements have different masses.