Robert Boyle Atomic Theory. When did boyle discover boyle's law? R obert boyle’s major contribution to the atomic theory was that he helped develop a definition of an element ( any substance that can be broken into 2 or more substances is not an element) and helped with ” the death” of the four elements.

In 1661 the english chemist robert boyle laid down the modern criterion of an element published the modern criterion for an element: The pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional. Unlike the greek philosophers, he was doing physical experiments.