DEPHLOGISTICATION Meaning and
Definition
-
Dephlogistication refers to the process of removing phlogiston from a substance or material. The term "dephlogistication" stems from the theory of phlogiston, which was developed in the 17th century to explain chemical reactions and combustion. According to this theory, phlogiston was considered a substance that was released during the process of combustion, causing materials to burn.
In the context of the phlogiston theory, dephlogistication involved the removal of phlogiston from a substance, thereby rendering it less prone to combustion. This process was believed to occur through various means, such as exposure to certain chemicals or elements that had the ability to extract phlogiston. It was thought that dephlogistication resulted in the substance becoming more stable, less combustible, and more refined in nature.
However, it is important to note that the phlogiston theory has been discredited in modern chemistry as the understanding of chemical reactions evolved. It was replaced by more accurate theories that explained combustion through the exchange of oxygen molecules instead. Therefore, in contemporary usage, the term "dephlogistication" is no longer employed in scientific discourse.
Though "dephlogistication" is an obsolete term, it serves as a historical reference, illustrating the development and evolution of scientific thought in the field of chemistry.
-
The operation by which bodies are deprived of phlogiston.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for DEPHLOGISTICATION
- dephlogisticatiof
- dephlogisticatiol
- dephlogisticatioo
- dephlowgistication
- d ephlogistication
- deph logistication
- dephl ogistication
- dephlo gistication
- dephlog istication
- dephlogi stication
- dephlogis tication
- dephlogist ication
- dephlogisti cation
- dephlogistic ation
- dephlogistica tion
- dephlogisticat ion
- dephlogisticati on
- dephlogisticatio n
Etymology of DEPHLOGISTICATION
The word "dephlogistication" was coined in the 18th century by the chemist Joseph Priestley. It is derived from the concept of "phlogiston", which was a theoretical substance hypothesized in the early days of chemistry to be responsible for combustion. According to the phlogiston theory, substances that burn release phlogiston into the air, resulting in the formation of "calxes" (the residues of combustion).
"Dephlogistication" is a term Priestley used to describe the process of removing phlogiston from a substance or material. At the time, it was believed that substances lost their phlogiston through various processes, such as burning or chemical reactions.
However, the phlogiston theory was eventually discredited with the advancement of modern chemistry and the discovery of oxygen by Antoine Lavoisier.
