Democritus (460BC - 370BC)

 

At the time a philosopher named Aristotle believed that different things were made of different amounts of elements such as earth, water, air, fire, and ether.

Democritus believed that if you cut any object in half, and continue to cut it in half you will get to a point in which it won't be able to be cut in half again. He called these objects atomos which means "uncuttable". Democritus said that if you continue to break down the object it will not break up into the four elements, earth, water, air, fire, and either that Aristotle hypothesized.

Democritus claimed that all matter was made of tiny uncuttable particles.

Atoms are physically indivisible, indestructible, and will always be in motion. Theres an infinite number of atoms and kinds of atoms that come in different shapes and sizes.

Democritus believed that iron atoms had hooks which was how they were able to be strongly bonded together. Also, he thought salt atoms had spikes on them because he thought that they tasted sharp.

Started the atomic theory of the universe which is why he is known as the "father of modern science".