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It was an early theory put forward by chemists to explain certain things about the chemistry of air. Particularly to explain what was in the air that could or could not support burning or life.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoPhlogiston was supposed to be the substance or principle contained in flammable substances which allowed them to burn. The idea was first put forward by Johann Becher in 1667 and it was given its name by Georg Stahl. The theory underwent several changes as scientists tried to fit it to the observed reality of the ways things burn. It explained the burning of a piece of paper very well: the paper loses phlogiston and a grey ash is formed, which weighs less than the original paper. Other observations could be explained too. If you burn something in an enclosed space, eventually no more will burn. Scientists postulated that the air could only absorb so much phlogiston, and then , when it is completely phlogisticated, it will no longer support combustion. When Joseph Priestley made oxygen, he thought he had made 'dephlogisticated air,' that is air with no phlogiston at all, so that it could absorb more than ordinary air and things would burn better. However, there were observations which were much harder to explain, principally that if you burn a metal, the new substance formed is heavier than the starting metal. Various ways were tried to explain it, some of which sound very far-fetched to modern ears, and the theory was still widely accepted. In the 1780's Antoine Lavoisier put forward a different theory, the one we have today, based on the idea that combustion is combination with oxygen. This theory explained observations better than the phlogiston theory, and gradually Lavoisier's ideas became accepted. The story is an excellent example of how science rejects even the most entrenched ideas when they are shown not to work. (Though scientists are people, and many individuals were unable to give up the idea of phlogiston, including Joseph Priestley.) This is a simplification of a complex and fascinating history. There is more detail here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlogiston_theory.
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Who rejected phlogiston theory?
Lavoiser rejected the phlogiston theory!
What evidence was there to suggesst that the phlogiston theory was correct?
the evidence that the phlogistan theory was correct was that there was heat and by the way this is definetly correct
Who eventually disproved the idea of phlogiston?
A russain soviet called Malinovka Sosujragxy disproved the Phlogiston theory and discovered Oxygen instead was helped by his main colleague, Joe Lee.
How many people believed in the phlogiston theory?
Most people in the scientific community accepted it in the 18th century.
Who invented the phlogiston theory?
I think that it was Antoine Lavoiser that invented it but I am not that sure so you may need a second opinion!
Who rejected phlogiston theory?
Lavoiser rejected the phlogiston theory!
When iron rusts is it a phlogiston theory or a oxygen theory?
It is a process that involves oxygen. The phlogiston theory has been disprooven for a long time.
Was the phlogiston theory of burning correct?
No, it was not. The phenomena explained by the theory are now known to be a result of oxidation, and phlogiston does not exist.
Who propose the phlogiston theory?
The phlogiston theory was first proposed by Johann Joachim Becher in 1667. This theory is now considered obsolete and was replaced by the oxygen theory.
How did Antoine lavoisier disprove the phlogiston theory?
There was no evidence until at least 2 yrs into the work of the phlogiston theory
What are the good points of the phlogiston theory?
a combustible material is made up of 2 parts: the calx and phlogiston when a substance burnt the phlogiston into air and calx(ash) left behind so there are no good points of this theory
Why did the phlogiston theory change peoples ideas about burning?
because it changed their mind to belive that phlogiston is in flammable things.
What does the phlogiston theory ignore?
The phlogiston theory was not able to give satisfactory explanations of diverse energy conversions that involved heat energy. For example, through friction you can generate an almost unlimited amount of heat energy from a device.
Recognized as the father of modern chemistry and discovered phlogiston?
Lavoisier is consider the first modern important chemist. The phlogiston theory was created in 1667 by Johann Joachim Becher. This theory is false.
What did Johann becher and georg stahl invent?
Proposed the theory of burning called the phlogiston theory
Why did the discovery of oxygen overturn the phlogiston theory?
I don' t know
Is phlogiston considered a scientific knowledge?
No. Phlogiston was a theory considered to be fact and actually hindered scientific knowledge until it was discredited. The theory was used to explain certain observations about flame, oxidation, and the formation of certain compounds, most noticeably cinnabar. As with some theories, phlogiston used variable factors to explain anomalies. For instance it was assumed to have negative weight under certain circumstances. Once oxidation was properly understood phlogiston theory was no longer considered true.
