Monday, February 4, 2008
So far so good...
I would like for you to find out something about the phlogiston theory and how Lavoisier's work affected that theory. You've done a very thorough job of researching so far. Just so we are clear, find out what you can about phlogiston and how that influenced scientific thinking, especially around Laviosier's time. Then decide whether you believe that Lavoisier's work supported or refuted that theory. Be sure to post what you find and your sources on the internet as well. If you can find the sources you used for your earlier responses, you need to cite those too. You will need all of this information before this project is over.
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Source for earlier response wwas:
http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~meg3c/classes/tcc313/200Rprojs/lavoisier2/home.html
The phlogiston theory was first made to explain how exactly things burnt, a question that would take centuries to answer. Without the answer to this question, chemistry was a type of stand still. By the 17th century an assumption was finally made “the reactions of metals in air and the breathing of animals all had something in common - they were all faster or slower versions of the same type of reaction” (“Phlogiston Theory” 1). Two scientists, Johann Becher and Georg Stah, came up with observations about burning substance and what they became after being heated. They noted that wood turns to ashes and metals become soft powders when heated. They figured there was a perfectly clear explanation for all of this PHLOGISTON! They said that burning was the “removal” of a substance, and in this substance was what is called phlogiston. From these few explanations and observations they came up with the Phlogiston Theory, which stated that metals and all other combustible substances contain a substance known as Phlogison which is released into the air on burning along with heat, and air had a limited ability to absorb phlogistion, and that phlogistion cannot be detected by the senses (“The Phlogiston Theory”).
Lavoisers work refuted the theory and he came up with other theories to help explain his observations such as the theory of conservation of mass. So many scientists were put out with the Phlogiston theory that many turned to Lavoisers work and ideas to help explain their own problems. His model turns out to be so accurate we still use it today!
Works Citied:
"Phlogiston Theory." Wikipedia. 23 Jan. 2008. 5 Feb. 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlogiston_theory
"The Phlogiston Theory." Timline Science. 9 Mar. 2005. 5 Feb. 2008 http://www.timelinescience.org/resource/students/phlog/phlog_th.htm
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