Which of the following is not a characteristic of Dalton's atomic theory?

Dalton's atomic theory presents several foundational concepts about the nature of matter. One core tenet of this theory is that atoms are indivisible and cannot be created or destroyed in chemical reactions. This aligns with the idea that matter is conserved during such processes. Therefore, the assertion that atoms can be created and destroyed contradicts this principle and is not characteristic of Dalton's atomic theory.

The other options align with Dalton's perspectives: atoms of the same element are indeed considered identical in mass (an assumption used to differentiate elements), atoms combine in simple whole-number ratios to form compounds (a principle that underlies stoichiometry in chemical reactions), and the notion that atoms are made up of smaller particles has emerged later and is often attributed to the advancements in atomic theory that followed Dalton's initial conclusions.