Phlogiston - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Phlogiston was a hypothetical substance once believed to be released during combustion. It was part of an outdated scientific theory explaining fire before the discovery of oxygen.
Definition:
A hypothetical fire-like element once believed to be released during combustion.
Synonyms:
fire element, combustible principle, inflammable substance
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
oxygen, modern chemistry (contextual opposites)
Common Collocations:
phlogiston theory, phlogiston hypothesis, phlogiston concept
Derivatives:
phlogistic, phlogisticated
Usage Tips:
Use "phlogiston" in historical or scientific contexts discussing obsolete theories of combustion.
Common Phrases:
theory of phlogiston, phlogiston release, phlogiston transfer
Etymology:
From Greek "phlogistos" (flammable), coined in 17th-century alchemy to explain burning processes.
Examples:
- 1. The alchemists believed phlogiston was released during burning.
- 2. Modern chemistry disproved the existence of phlogiston.
- 3. Lavoisier's experiments overturned the phlogiston theory.
- 4. Phlogiston was thought to give substances their flammable properties.