Phlogiston theory — 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… … Wikipedia
phlogiston — /floh jis ton, teuhn/, n. a nonexistent chemical that, prior to the discovery of oxygen, was thought to be released during combustion. [1720 30; < NL: inflammability, n. use of Gk phlogistón, neut. of phlogistós inflammable, burnt up; see… … Universalium
Theory — The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion.In science a theory is a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena,… … Wikipedia
Phlogiston — Phlo*gis ton, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? burnt, set on fire, fr. ? to set on fire, to burn, fr. ?, ?, a flame, blaze. See {Phlox}.] (Old Chem.) The hypothetical principle of fire, or inflammability, regarded by Stahl as a chemical element. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
phlogiston — 1730, hypothetical inflammatory principle, formerly believed to exist in all combustible matter, from Modern Latin (1702), from Gk. phlogiston (1610s in this sense), neut. of phlogistos burnt up, inflammable, from phlogizein to set on fire, burn … Etymology dictionary
Theory of heat — In the history of science, the theory of heat or mechanical theory of heat was a theory, introduced predominantly in 1824 by the French physicist Sadi Carnot, that heat and mechanical work are equivalent.[1] It is related to the mechanical… … Wikipedia
phlogiston — A hypothetical substance of negative mass that, according to the theory of G.E. Stahl, was given off by a substance when it underwent combustion, thus accounting for the decrease in mass of the ash over the original substance; abandoned after the … Medical dictionary
Caloric theory — The caloric theory is an obsolete scientific theory that heat consists of a fluid called caloric that flows from hotter to colder bodies. Caloric was also thought of as a weightless gas that could pass in and out of pores in solids and liquids.… … Wikipedia
chemistry — /kem euh stree/, n., pl. chemistries. 1. the science that deals with the composition and properties of substances and various elementary forms of matter. Cf. element (def. 2). 2. chemical properties, reactions, phenomena, etc.: the chemistry of… … Universalium
Joseph Priestley — (13 March 1733 (Old Style) – 6 February 1804) was an 18th century British theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works. He is usually credited with the discovery of oxygen,… … Wikipedia
