Who discovered the molecule (300 words)

:-) In chemistry, the history of molecular theory traces the origins of the concept or idea of the existence of strong chemical bonds between two or more atoms. The first people to suggest that the world was made of atoms were Democritus and Leucippes(most people of this time believed the world was made from the elements fire, water, earth and wind). However who actually ‘discovered’ is unclear because conceptions happened way before they were seen so it is hard to debate.

The modern structure of benzene was first proposed by Kekule in 1865, then confirmed by Kathleen Longsdale: a crystallographer. He was the first known person to use a model similar to the one we use today- evident in the double carbon bonds .

In 1718, Etienne Francois Geoffrey produced what is known as an affinity table. It’s purpose was to show all the elements that could be combined to make molecules. This shows us that anybody after this can be ruled out because these molecules were scientifically proven to exist before them.

However, in the 17th century we finally get our answer. In 1661, Robert Boyle created The Sceptical Chymist, which proved, and named, molecule’s existence.

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