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phlogiston theory , hypothesis regarding combustion. The theory, advanced by J. ... The theory received strong and wide support throughout a large part of the 18th cent. ... Joseph Priestley, however, defended the theory throughout his lifetime. ...
The theory of phlogiston was predominantly German in origin, with much early work done in Mainz, though it was widely believed through much of the eighteenth century -- two of the most prominent followers of the theory, Johann Joachim Becher and Georg Ernst Stahl (who first used the name phlogiston in 1700), were Swedish. Phlogiston was not only widespread but deep-seated, and gave way to the atomic theory only slowly. ... In this respect phlogiston theory is similar to the ancient alchemical notions of earth, air, fire, and water. ... Air, according to the theory, was merely the receptacle for phlogiston; all combustible or calcinable substances, in fact, were not elements but compounds containing phlogiston. ...
Phlogiston theory was widely supported throughout the eighteenth century, although it came under increasing attack as empirical research pointed up its difficulties. ... Even Priestley believed in the theory until his death, convinced that his discovery of oxygen was "dephlogisticated air.
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