Phosphorus Definition, Facts, Symbol, Discovery, Property, Uses (2024)

What is Phosphorus

Phosphorus (pronunciation: FOS-fer-es) is a highly-reactive element classified as a non-metal represented by the chemical symbol P ^{[1, 2, 3]}. It mainly exists in its two allotropic forms, including the waxy, white solid and the non-crystalline, solid red that is obtained by heating white phosphorus ^{[3, 4, 5]}.

Isotopes

There are 24 isotopes of phosphorus, ranging from ²⁴P to ⁴⁷P out of which ³¹P is stable ^[6]. While most of the radioactive isotopes are short-lived with half-life periods less than 2.5 minutes, ³³P and ³²P are the longest-lived with half-lives of 25.34 days and 14.263 days respectively ^[6]. The least stable among the 24 isotopes of ₁₅P is ²⁵P characterized by a half-life period less than 30 nanoseconds ^[6].

Where is Phosphorus Found

Phosphorus does not occur freely in nature, but it forms compounds with other elements in minerals ^[1]. It is mainly obtained from phosphate rock, including the apatite phosphate mineral ^[1].

White phosphorus is commercially produced by treating phosphate rock with silica and carbon in a fuel-fired or electric furnace ^[1]. Phosphorus is produced as a vapor, which is collected under water ^[1]. Red phosphorus is manufactured by heating the white form to 250 °C in an inert atmosphere ^[1].

The top 3 phosphorus producing countries are China, Mexico, and Morocco while the top 3 phosphorus reserve holders include Morocco, China, and the USA ^[1].

History

Origin of its Name: It is derived from ‘phosphoros’, Greek for the bringer of light ^[1]

Who discovered it: The element was discovered by the German merchant and alchemist Hennig Brand ^{[1, 2]}.

When and How was it Discovered

In 1669, Hennig Brand discovered phosphorus at Hamburg by boiling urine and then heating the residue, which produced phosphorus vapor ^[1]. Then, he distilled the phosphorus vapor and collected it after condensing it in the water ^[1]. Hennig Brand decided to keep his discovery secret because he thought that he had produced the Philosopher’s Stone which could be used for turning metals into gold ^[1].

Since Hennig needed money, he sold it to Daniel Kraft who displayed it around Europe, capturing the attention of Robert Boyle ^[1]. He studied phosphorus systematically and found out its characteristics ^[1].

Properties and Characteristics of Phosphorus

Atomic Data of Phosphorus (Element 15)

What is Phosphorus Used for

• Its allotropic white form is used in incendiary bombs and flares ^[1].
• Red phosphorus is used in manufacturing safety matches and is stuck on the matchboxes so that the matches can be lit by striking against them ^{[1, 5]}.
• Phosphorus compounds are generally used in fertilizers ^{[1, 5]}.
• Phosphate ores are an important source of ammonium phosphate ^[1]. The ores are converted into phosphoric acids and then into ammonium phosphate ^[1].
• It is also an essential ingredient in the manufacture of steel, phosphor bronze, and some detergents ^{[1, 5]}. However, its use in detergents has now been phased out in several countries because it can accumulate in natural water supplies and induce the growth of unwanted algae ^[1].
• It is used in manufacturing fine chinaware and special glasses ^[1].
• Phosphorus is one of the materials used for producing LEDs (light-emitting diodes) ^[5].

Toxicity and Health Effects

An excess of phosphate in the human body can cause soft tissue, hardening of organs, or diarrhea ^[12]. It can also affect your body’s mechanism of utilizing other essential minerals like zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron ^[12].

While too much phosphorus is toxic for your health, too little of it can weaken your teeth and bones, as well as cause anxiety, fatigue, and loss of appetite ^[12].

It is an essential nutrient for plants, which help in moving it through the biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere and this cycle is known as the phosphorus cycle ^[5].

Interesting Facts

• The average amount of phosphates in the human body, mostly in the teeth and bones, is estimated at 750 g (26.5 ounces) ^[4].
• A 2013 study has shown that the phosphorus in the Earth’s crust may have been brought by meteorites ^[4].
• High phosphorus levels in the blood is a warning sign for heart diseases ^[4].
• Since white phosphorus exists as molecules consisting of four atoms arranged in a tetrahedral structure, its graphical representation indicates this tetrahedral shape with a ball-and-stick model ^[1].

Cost of Phosphorus

The price of pure phosphorus is $0.3 per gram ^[5].

References
1. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/15/phosphorus
2. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele015.html
3. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5462309#section=Top
4. https://www.livescience.com/28932-phosphorus.html
5. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/phosphorus.html
6. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/iso015.html
7. https://www.webqc.org/molecular-weight-of-Phosphorus.html
8. http://periodictable.com/Elements/015/data.html
9. Lenntech.com
10. http://chemistry-reference.com/q_elements.asp?Symbol=P
11. https://hobart.k12.in.us/ksms/PeriodicTable/phosphorus.htm
12. https://www.healthline.com/health/phosphorus-in-diet#toomuch-phosphorus