phlogiston

Categories: Site glossary

Phlogiston was the name given to a conjectured substance that was once considered a component of many materials. Combustion, burning, was seen as (rather than combination with oxygen) the release of this phlogiston. Quite extensive schemes of chemical changes were developed based on phlogiston theory. The idea was gradually dropped as Lavoisier's 'new' chemistry became to be adopted.

Read more about phlogiston

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.