CHEMISTRY CHAPTER ZERO

Why should I believe in atoms?

 

For many years, I have teased teachers by asking “If a sassy ninth grader* asked you, ‘Why should I believe in atoms?’, what would you say?”. “Would you call on authority and respond ‘The textbook says so.’ or ‘I said so.’?”

 “Would you say ‘Let’s look at the experimental data.’”

 * The phrase “sassy ninth grader” is widely regarded as redundant.