Who developed the theory of combustion as a chemical reaction with oxygen in the 18th century, that excluded phlogiston theory?

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1. Historical context: In the 18th century the prevailing phlogiston theory claimed combustion released a substance called phlogiston.

2. Key experiments: Antoine Lavoisier performed careful quantitative experiments (weighing reactants and products) on combustion of phosphorus, sulfur and metals and showed that mass increases on burning, contradicting phlogiston.

3. New theory: Lavoisier demonstrated that combustion involves combination with a component of air (oxygen) and formulated combustion as a chemical reaction, e.g. $\mathrm{C} + \mathrm{O}_2 \rightarrow \mathrm{CO}_2$, thereby replacing phlogiston and founding modern chemistry.

4. Conclusion: The correct inventor of the oxygen-based combustion theory is Antoine Lavoisier (option 1), corresponding to choice (a).

FINAL_ANSWER: a

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