John Dalton didn’t just discover the laws of chemistry. We built a frame that lasts even if the foundation cracks.
His partial pressure theory was based on certain incorrect assumptions about the behavior of atoms. He believed that only identical atoms repel each other. In his view, atoms, unlike atoms, were indifferent. They completely ignored each other.
This idea is wrong. Atoms interact in complex ways that don’t fit into simple “similar and different” categories. However, this mistake served its purpose. This explains why the gases in the mixture act independently. Each gas behaves as if no other gases were present.
Dalton’s model showed that different types of atoms are not alike. It shows diversity at the atomic level. The mechanism is faulty. Conclusions are very important. We still use his concept of partial pressures. The reason is simple. Works for ideal gases. The basic philosophy is wrong. The math works out.
