Chemistry

Drawbacks of Dalton’s atomic theory
Some of the drawbacks of the Dalton’s atomic theory of matter are given below :
One of the major drawbacks of Dalton’s atomic theory of matter is that atoms were thought to be indivisible (which cannot be divided). We now know that under special circumstances, atoms can be further divided into still smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. So, atoms are themselves made up of three particles : electrons, protons and neutrons.
Dalton’s atomic theory says that all the atoms of an element have exactly the same mass. it is, however, now known that atoms of the same element can have slightly different masses.
Dalton’s atomic theory said that atoms of different elements have different masses. it is, however, now known that even atoms of different elements can have the same mass.
It failed to explain how atoms of different elements differ from each other, i.e., it did not tell anything about internal structure of the atom.
It could not explain how and why atoms of different elements combine with each other to form compound atoms or molecules.
It failed to explain the nature of forces that hold together different atoms in a molecule.
It did not make any distinction between ultimate particle of an element that takes part in reactions (atom) and ultimate particle that has independent existence (molecule).