Michael faraday atomic theory

Michael Faraday (1791-1867), whom I’ve talked about numerous times, has a reputation as being a bit of a theoretical lightweight, namely because he had little formal mathematical training.  In spite of this, however, he had an ability to think abstractly and, yes, theoretically about problems in a way that, when examined, is nothing short of amazing.

In my previous researches on Faraday, I came across a reference to an article he wrote in 1844 in volume 24 of Philosophical Magazine, pp. 136-144, “A speculation touching electric conduction and the nature of matter.”  Faraday, already a distinguished and even famous scientist, shared some thoughts about the nature of atomic structure, based on the paucity of knowledge that was available at the time.  His observations, though still off the mark according to current understanding, were remarkably forward thinking; furthermore, they provide a lovely snapshot of the ‘state of the art’ in 1844.   Let’s take a look at his paper:

It is worth noting that extremely little was known about the structure of the atom in Faraday’s time; you can see my gallery of failed atomic models to see how confused the field was even fifty years later.  Faraday summarizes the thinking of his contemporaries:

The view of the atomic constitution of matter which I think is most prevalent, is that which considers the atom as a something material having a certain volume, upon which those powers were impressed at the creation, which have given it, from that time to the present, the capability of constituting, when many atoms are congregated together into groups, the different substances whose effects and properties we observe.  These, though grouped and held together by their powers, do not touch each other, but have intervening space, otherwise pressure or cold could not make a body contract into a smaller bulk, nor heat or tension make it larger; in liquids these atoms or particles are free to move

English chemist and physicist (1791–1867)

"Faraday" redirects here. For other uses, see Faraday (disambiguation).

Michael Faraday (; 22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867) was an English chemist and physicist who contributed to the study of electrochemistry and electromagnetism. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis. Although Faraday received little formal education, as a self-made man, he was one of the most influential scientists in history. It was by his research on the magnetic field around a conductor carrying a direct current that Faraday established the concept of the electromagnetic field in physics. Faraday also established that magnetism could affect rays of light and that there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena. He similarly discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis. His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity became practical for use in technology. The SI unit of capacitance, the farad, is named after him.

As a chemist, Faraday discovered benzene, investigated the clathrate hydrate of chlorine, invented an early form of the Bunsen burner and the system of oxidation numbers, and popularised terminology such as "anode", "cathode", "electrode" and "ion". Fara

This module is an updated version of Atomic Theory I.

By the late 1800’s, John Dalton’s view of as the smallest that made up all had held sway for about 100 years, but that idea was about to be challenged. Several scientists working on atomic found that atoms were not the smallest possible particles that made up matter, and that different parts of the atom had very distinct characteristics.

Faraday’s observations

The English scientist can reasonably be considered one of the greatest minds ever in the fields of electrochemistry and electromagnetism. Somewhat paradoxically, all of Faraday’s pioneering work was carried out prior to the discovery of the fundamental that these electrical phenomena depend upon. However, one of Faraday’s earliest experimental was a crucial precursor to the discovery of the first subatomic particle, the .

As early as the mid-17th century, scientists had been experimenting with glass tubes filled with what was known then as rarefied air. Rarefied air referred to a in which most of the gaseous had been removed, but where the vacuum was not complete. In 1838, Faraday noted that when passing a through such a tube, an arc of electricity was observed. The arc started at the negative plate (known as the cathode) and traveled through the tube to the oppositely charged (Faraday, 1838).

Advancing technology moves science forward

In addition to the extension of the dark space, was observed on the glass behind the at the positive end of the tube.

J.J. Thomson and the first subatomic particle

As discussed in our module Early Ideas about Matter, Dalton’s atomic suggested that the was indivisible, i.e., that it was the smallest that made up , and that all matter was based upon that single . with ray tubes dramatically changed that view when they led to the discovery of the first subatomic particle.

J.J. Thomson was an English physicist who worked with ray tubes similar to those use