Why are atoms considered the basic building blocks of matter even though smaller particles such as protons and electrons exist? Everything around us is made up of atoms. The chair you sit on is made up of atoms, the pages of a book, the air you breathe, the grass, rocks, and trees out doors are all made up of atoms. An atom is incredibly tiny--more than a million times smaller than the thickness of a …showed first 75 words of 280 total…

…showed last 75 words of 280 total…all matter consists of tiny particles called atoms. #2- atoms are indestructible and unchangeable. #3- elements are characterized by the mass of there atoms#4- when elements react, their atoms combine in simple whole number ratios. Daltons #1 theory is different now because it was discovered that atoms could be changed into different elements. His third theory was also proven wrong because their atomic number or the number of protons characterizes elements not by the mass.