Meaning & Definition of word "Dalton"

Dalton

/ˈdɔːltən/

1. A unit of mass equivalent to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom, used in chemistry and biochemistry.
- Example: The molecular weight of the protein was calculated to be 50,000 daltons.
2. A name for an atom or a molecule in reference to its mass, often used in the field of molecular biology.
- Example: The compound has a dalton value of approximately 300.
3. A historical reference to the atomic theory proposed by John Dalton in the early 19th century.
- Example: Dalton's work laid the foundation for modern atomic theory.

Named after John Dalton, who introduced the concept in the early 19th century.

Dalton's Law:

A principle stating that in a mixture of non-reacting gases, the total pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of each gas.

Daltonism:

Another term for color blindness, particularly red-green color blindness.

atomic mass:

The mass of an atom calculated based on the number of protons and neutrons.

molecule:

A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.

Meaning: Used informally to refer to someone who is not very bright.

Example Sentence: He's acting like a total dalton when he can't solve the easy math problem.

Meaning: In some contexts, it refers to someone who is oblivious or clueless.

Example Sentence: Don't be such a dalton and open your eyes to the obvious solution.