oxygen theory of combustion

The oxygen theory of combustion, developed by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century, replaced the earlier phlogiston theory. The phlogiston theory proposed that combustible substances contained a principle of fire called phlogiston, which was released during burning. This theory struggled to explain why some substances gained weight when they burned.12

Lavoisier's theory posits that combustion is a chemical reaction where a substance combines with oxygen. This process generates heat and light, often in the form of flame. Lavoisier's work, supported by the discovery of oxygen by Joseph Priestley, demonstrated that the gain in weight observed during combustion was due to the substance combining with oxygen from the atmosphere. This understanding of combustion as a reaction with oxygen became a cornerstone of modern chemistry.324