Question

The Greek term ‘atomos’ means:

• A. divisible
• B. indivisible
• C. macro molecule
• D. soft sphere

Hint:

The term "atom" is derived from the Greek word "atomos," which means indivisible, reflecting the early theory that atoms were the fundamental building blocks of matter.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Concept.
The Greek term is built from a prefix meaning not and a root meaning cuttable.

Step 2: Combine the parts.
Putting not and cuttable together gives not cuttable, which is the same as indivisible, the meaning ancient philosophers gave to the smallest unit of matter.

Step 3: Final Answer.
The Greek term atomos means Indivisible.

Answer 2

Looking at why the ancient Greeks coined this word in the first place also points to the answer.

1. Divisible: The philosopher Democritus, who is credited with proposing this term, argued the opposite view, that matter could only be cut so many times before reaching a particle that could not be cut anymore, so his term could not mean divisible.
2. Indivisible: Democritus proposed that if you kept cutting a piece of matter in half again and again, you would eventually reach a particle that could not be divided any further. He named that final particle using this exact term for that reason, so its meaning is tied directly to the idea of something that cannot be cut.
3. Macro molecule: This concept, a large assembled molecule, is a modern chemical idea that did not exist in Democritus' time and has no connection to his reasoning about indivisible particles.
4. Soft sphere: Democritus' atoms were imagined as solid, indestructible particles, not soft ones, so this description does not match the philosophy behind the word.

The philosophical idea that matter has a smallest, uncuttable particle is exactly what the Greek term was chosen to capture.

So the correct answer is Indivisible.