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The alchemist and physician J. J. Becher proposed the phlogiston theory

The phlogiston theory (from the Ancient Greek φλογιστόν phlogistón "burning up", from φλόξ phlóx "flame"), first stated in 1667 by Johann Joachim Becher, is an obsolete scientific theory that postulated the existence of a fire-like element called "phlogiston", which was contained within combustible bodies and released during combustion. The theory was an attempt to explain processes of burning such as combustion and the rusting of metals, which are now collectively known as oxidation.

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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.


Stahl and Becher major contributions to the field of chemistry?

They proposed the Phlogiston Theory.


What did the Phlogiston theory explain?

The Pholgiston theory explains that when substances (feul) burn, people belived that pholgiston (oxygen) is produced leaving behind the Clax (ash)


Why was the pholgiston theory thought to be incorrect?

The theory holds that all flammable materials contain phlogiston, a substance without color, odor, taste, or mass that is liberated in burning. Once burned, the "dephlogisticated" substance was held to be in its "true" form, the calx."Phlogisticated" substances are those that contain phlogiston and are "dephlogisticated" when burned; "in general, substances that burned in air were said to be rich in phlogiston; the fact that combustion soon ceased in an enclosed space was taken as clear-cut evidence that air had the capacity to absorb only a definite amount of phlogiston. When air had become completely phlogisticated it would no longer serve to support combustion of any material, nor would a metal heated in it yield a calx; nor could phlogisticated air support life, for the role of air in respiration was to remove the phlogiston from the body."[4] Thus, phlogiston as first conceived was a sort of anti-oxygen.Joseph Black's student Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in 1772 and the pair used the theory to explain his results. The residue of air left after burning, in fact a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, was sometimes referred to as "phlogisticated air", having taken up all of the phlogiston. Conversely, when oxygen was first discovered it was thought to be "dephlogisticated air", capable of combining with more phlogiston and thus supporting combustion for longer than ordinary air.[5]j.mastanrao.chemistry mentorandhra pradeshindiae mail: jmrao2006@gmail.com


What is an outdated theory based on the consensus of the scientific community?

One outdated theory is the concept of phlogiston, which was once believed to be a substance released during combustion. According to this theory, all flammable materials contained phlogiston, which was released when they burned, resulting in ash or residue. The theory was widely accepted until the late 18th century when Antoine Lavoisier's work on oxygen and the chemical processes of combustion led to its rejection, establishing the modern understanding of oxidation. Today, the scientific community recognizes combustion as a chemical reaction involving oxygen rather than the release of phlogiston.

Related Questions

What is the mixture of calx and phlogiston?

lead calx + phlogiston = metallic lead


What did scientist think phlogiston was?

Phlogiston can be defined as "a hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning." Chemistry was so underdeveloped at the time Antoine Lavoisier gained interest in it that it could hardly be called a science. The prevailing view of combustion was the Phlogiston Theory which involved a weightless or nearly weightless substance known as phlogiston. Metals and fire were considered to be rich in phlogiston and earth was considered phlogiston poor. The following were the main theories put forward for 'phlogiston': * Weight loss when combustibles are burned because they lose phlogiston * Fire burns out in an enclosed space because it saturates the air with phlogiston * Charcoal leaves very little residue when burned because it is made mostly of phlogiston * Animals die in an airtight space because the air becomes saturated with phlogiston * Some metal calxes turn to metals when heated with charcoal because the phlogiston from the charcoal restores the phlogiston in the metal


What evidence is there to prove phlogiston theory of burning was correct?

The phlogiston theory has been debunked by the discovery of oxygen. When materials burn, they combine with oxygen, not phlogiston as believed in the theory. The understanding of combustion and oxidation provided by oxygen led to the rejection of the phlogiston theory.


Who rejected phlogiston theory?

Antoine Lavoisier is credited with rejecting the phlogiston theory. Through his experiments and observations, he was able to show that combustion involved a process of oxidation rather than the release of phlogiston. This led to the development of modern chemistry.


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.


Why did the phlogiston theory change peoples ideas about burning?

because it changed their mind to belive that phlogiston is in flammable things.


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 phlogiston is an element?

Phlogiston is a hypothetical substance which at one time was thought to be the basis of combustion, but which is now known to be fictitious. It is not an element.


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.


Did chemists believe in the phlogiston theory?

Yes, chemists believed in the phlogiston theory in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was thought that when substances burned, they released a substance called phlogiston. However, the theory was eventually disproven with the development of modern chemistry.


What do people believe about the phlogiston theory?

The phlogiston theory, which suggested that all combustible materials contained a substance called phlogiston that was released during combustion, was once widely accepted. However, it has since been discredited with the advancement of modern chemistry and the discovery of oxygen's role in combustion. Today, the phlogiston theory is considered a historical scientific misconception.


How did Antoine lavoisier disprove the phlogiston theory?

Antoine Lavoisier disproved the phlogiston theory by experimenting with combustion reactions and showing that burning substances gained weight instead of losing it. He demonstrated that oxygen is an essential component of combustion, not phlogiston as proposed by the theory. Lavoisier's precise measurements and meticulous approach to experimental evidence played a crucial role in discrediting the phlogiston theory and establishing the foundation for modern chemistry.