Editing Phlogiston theory (section)

{{Short description|Superseded theory of combustion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{wikt | phlogiston}}
[[File:Jjbecher.jpg|thumb|upright|right|The alchemist and physician [[J. J. Becher]] proposed the phlogiston theory.]]

The '''phlogiston theory''', a [[Superseded scientific theories| superseded scientific theory]], postulated the existence of a fire-like [[Chemical element| element]] dubbed '''phlogiston''' ({{IPAc-en|f|l|ɒ|ˈ|dʒ|ɪ|s|t|ən|,_|f|l|oʊ|-|,_|-|ɒ|n}})<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last= Mauskop|first= Seymour|date=1 November 2002|title=Richard Kirwan's Phlogiston Theory: Its Success and Fate|journal=Ambix|volume=49|issue=3|pages=185–205|doi= 10.1179/amb.2002.49.3.185 |pmid= 12833914|s2cid=170853908|issn=0002-6980}}</ref> contained within combustible bodies and released during [[combustion]]. The name comes from the [[Ancient Greek]] {{wikt-lang|grc|φλογιστόν}} {{transliteration|grc|phlogistón}} (''burning up''), from {{wikt-lang|grc|φλόξ}} {{transliteration|grc|phlóx}} (''flame''). The idea of a {{linktext|phlogistic}} substance was first proposed in 1667 by [[J. J. Becher| Johann Joachim Becher]] and later put together more formally in 1697 by [[Georg Ernst Stahl]]. Phlogiston theory attempted to explain chemical processes such as [[combustion]] and [[rust]]ing, now collectively known as [[redox| oxidation]]. The theory was challenged by the concomitant weight increase and was abandoned before the end of the 18th century following experiments by [[Antoine Lavoisier]] in the 1770s and by other scientists. Phlogiston theory led to experiments that ultimately resulted in the identification ({{circa | 1771}}), and naming (1777), of [[oxygen]] by [[Joseph Priestley]] and [[Antoine Lavoisier]], respectively.