FromNew Latinphlogiston, coined byGeorg Ernst Stahl in 1702, fromAncient Greekφλογιστόν(phlogistón), neuter ofφλογιστός(phlogistós,“burnt up, inflammable”), fromφλογίζω(phlogízō,“to set fire to”), fromφλόξ(phlóx,“flame”).
- IPA(key): /flə(ʊ)ˈd͡ʒɪstɒn/,/flə(ʊ)ˈd͡ʒɪstən/
phlogiston (usuallyuncountable,pluralphlogistons)
- (chemistry, historical) Thehypotheticalfieryprinciple formerlyassumed to be anecessaryconstituent ofcombustiblebodies and to begiven up by them inburning.
1810, George Wilson, M.D., F.R.D.E., “General Sketch of Cavendish's Scientific Researches and Discoveries”, inThe Life of the Honble Henry Cavendish,page39:[…] air was universally reputed to be a simple or elementary body. It was liable, according to thephlogistians, tovitiation, by the addition to it ofphlogiston[…] being more or lessphlogisticated, according to the degree of its power to support respiration and combustion.
2006,Philip Ball,The Devil's Doctor, Arrow 2007, page397:Stahl argued thatphlogiston could explain combustion, a central concern of eighteenth-century chemistry.
hypothetical fiery principle
Translations to be checked
phlogiston theory on Wikipedia.Wikipedia