Question

Who first coined the term ‘atomos’ meaning indivisible?
A. Rutherford
B. Thomson
C. Aristotle
D. Democritus
E. Dalton

Answer 1

Hint: As per the given question, we should know that the atomic theory was discovered in the ancient period. And the word ‘atomos’ which sounds to be a very ancient type, is derived from the Greek period. So, we should go to ancient Greece that is to 400 BC to know who coined the term.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s see what is atomic theory and how it was discovered to know who has coined the term atomos.
Atomic theory is a scientific theory which says that a matter is composed of particles called atoms. Atomic theory traces its origins to an ancient philosophical tradition known as ‘atomism’.
So, according to this, if one were to take an amount of matter and when it is cut into smaller pieces than one would reach a point where the pieces could not be further cut into anything smaller. And ancient Greek philosophers called these smaller particles which were unknown as the ultimate particles of matter as “atomos”. This word was proposed by a brilliant philosopher Democritus. And so on, he explained that matter is composed of extremely small and indivisible particles called atoms.
Thus, atom is a Greek word which means indivisible and atomos also means indivisible which was coined by Democritus.

So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note: Atomic theory was discovered by several philosophers but the term atom was first discovered by Democritus. Rutherford found that the atom is mostly an empty space where all its mass is concentrated in a tiny central nucleus. Thomson discovered electrons, which led him to further discovery of atomic theory. Aristotle did not believe in the atomic theory and he thought that all materials are not made of atoms but of four elements, earth, fire, water and air. Dalton discovered an atomic theory which states that a matter is made of atoms and all atoms are identical in mass and properties.