Who is credited as the originator of the concept that matter consists of indivisible particles?

The idea that matter consists of indivisible particles is attributed to Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher. Around the 5th century BCE, he proposed that the universe is made up of small, indivisible units called atoms, which comes from the Greek word "atomos," meaning "uncuttable." This concept was revolutionary for its time, as it suggested that all matter is composed of these tiny particles, leading to the idea that different substances arise from different arrangements and combinations of atoms.

Democritus’s theories laid the groundwork for later developments in atomic theory, although they were not widely accepted in his time. It wasn’t until much later that scientific advances and empirical evidence began to support and expand on his ideas. Therefore, identifying Democritus as the originator of this fundamental concept in atomic theory highlights his critical role in the early understanding of matter.