In the early 1800s, John Dalton used the concept of atoms to explain why elements always react in ratios of small whole numbers (the law of multiple proportions). For instance, there are two types of tin oxide: one is 88.1 % tin and 11.9 % oxygen and the other is 78.7 % tin and 21.3 % oxygen (tin (II) oxide and tin dioxide respectively). This means that 100g of tin will combine either with 13.5 g or 27g of oxygen. 13.5 and 27 form a ratio of 1: 2, a ratio of small whole numbers. This common pattern in chemistry suggested to Dalton that elements react in whole number multiples of discrete units -- in other words, atoms. In the case of tin oxides, one tin atom will combine with either one or two oxygen atoms.
who discovered that everything is made of atoms
John Dalton