This article is about the chemical element. For the article about Phosphorus meaning "morning star", go to Phosphorus (morning star). Phosphorus means Venus when it is seen in the morning (the morning star). ...

15 silicon ← phosphorus → sulfur N ↑ P ↓ As periodic table
General
Name, Symbol, Number	phosphorus, P, 15
Chemical series	nonmetals
Group, Period, Block	15, 3, p
Appearance	colorless/red/silvery white
Atomic mass	30.973761(2) g/mol
Electron configuration	[Ne] 3s2 3p3
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 5
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Density (near r.t.)	(white) 1.823 g/cm³
Density (near r.t.)	(red) 2.34 g/cm³
Density (near r.t.)	(black) 2.69 g/cm³
Melting point	(white) 317.3 K (44.2 °C, 111.6 °F)
Boiling point	550 K (277 °C, 531 °F)
Heat of fusion	(white) 0.66 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization	12.4 kJ/mol
Heat capacity	(25 °C) (white) 23.824 J/(mol·K)
Vapor pressure (white) P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 279 307 342 388 453 549
Vapor pressure (red) P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 455 489 529 576 635 704
Atomic properties
Crystal structure	monoclinic
Oxidation states	±3, 5, 4 (mildly acidic oxide)
Electronegativity	2.19 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies (more)	1st: 1011.8 kJ/mol
	2nd: 1907 kJ/mol
	3rd: 2914.1 kJ/mol
Atomic radius	100 pm
Atomic radius (calc.)	98 pm
Covalent radius	106 pm
Van der Waals radius	180 pm
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering	no data
Thermal conductivity	(300 K) (white) 0.236 W/(m·K)
Bulk modulus	11 GPa
CAS registry number	7723-14-0
Notable isotopes
iso NA half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 31P 100% P is stable with 16 neutrons 32P syn 14.28 d β- 1.709 32S 33P syn 25.3 d β- 0.249 33S
Except where noted, all data was produced under conditions of standard temperature and pressure. General Name, Symbol, Number silicon, Si, 14 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 14, 3, p Appearance dark gray, bluish tinge Atomic mass 28. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 14. ... General Name, Symbol, Number arsenic, As, 33 Chemical series metalloids Group, Period, Block 15, 4, p Appearance metallic gray Atomic mass 74. ... Phosphorus table image created for Wikipedia by Schnee on June 24, 2003, 23:32 UTC. Licensed under the terms of the GNU FDL. File links The following pages link to this file: Phosphorus User:Femto/elements e2 Categories: GFDL images ... State at standard temperature and pressure those numbered in red are gases those numbered in green are liquids those numbered in black are solid Natural occurrence those without borders have not been discovered/synthesized yet those with dotted borders do not occur naturally (Synthetic elements) those with dashed borders naturally... This is a list of the chemical elements, sorted by name. ... Categories: Chemical elements ... A chemical series is a group of chemical elements whose physical and chemical characteristics vary progressively from one end of the series to another. ... Together with the metals and metalloids, a nonmetal is one of three categories of chemical elements as distinguished by ionization and bonding properties. ... A periodic table group is a vertical column in the periodic table of the chemical elements. ... In the periodic table of the elements, a period is a row of the table. ... A block of the periodic table of elements is a set of adjacent groups. ... The group 15 elements(a. ... A period 3 element is one of the chemical elements in the third row (or period) of the periodic table of the elements. ... The p-block of the periodic table of elements consists of the last six groups. ... Color is an important part of the visual arts. ... Phosphorus sample. ... ... To help compare different orders of magnitude we list here masses between 6. ... Electron configuration is the arrangement of electrons in an atom, molecule or other body. ... General Name, Symbol, Number neon, Ne, 10 Chemical series noble gases Group, Period, Block 18, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 20. ... Properties The electron is a subatomic particle. ... In physics and quantum chemistry, an energy level is a quantized energy of a bound quantum mechanical state. ... In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties (i. ... A solid is a state of matter, characterized by a definite volume and a definite shape (i. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... Room temperature, in laboratory reports, is taken to be roughly 21–23 degrees Celsius (70–73 degrees Fahrenheit), or 294–296 kelvins. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... Room temperature, in laboratory reports, is taken to be roughly 21–23 degrees Celsius (70–73 degrees Fahrenheit), or 294–296 kelvins. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... Room temperature, in laboratory reports, is taken to be roughly 21–23 degrees Celsius (70–73 degrees Fahrenheit), or 294–296 kelvins. ... The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. ... The kelvin (symbol: K) is the SI unit of temperature, and is one of the seven SI base units. ... The degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it can change state from a liquid to a gas throughout the bulk of the liquid. ... The kelvin (symbol: K) is the SI unit of temperature, and is one of the seven SI base units. ... The degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Kilojoule per mole are an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material, where energy is measured in units of 1000 joules, and the amount of material is measured in mole units. ... The heat of vaporization is a physical property of substances. ... Kilojoule per mole are an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material, where energy is measured in units of 1000 joules, and the amount of material is measured in mole units. ... Heat capacity (abbreviated Cth or just C, also called thermal capacity) is the ability of matter to store heat. ... The vapor pressure is the pressure (if the vapor is mixed with other gases, the partial pressure) of a vapor. ... The vapor pressure is the pressure (if the vapor is mixed with other gases, the partial pressure) of a vapor. ... Rose des Sables (Sand Rose), a formation of gypse crystal In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. ... The oxidation state or oxidation number is defined as the sum of negative and positive charges in an atom, which indirectly indicates the number of electrons it has accepted or donated. ... In databases, ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. ... Electronegativity is the measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons. ... Electronegativity is a measure of the attraction that an atom has for the bonding pair of electrons in a covalent bond. ... ... These tables list the ionization energy in kJ/mol necessary to remove an electron from a neutral atom (first energy), respectively from a singly, doubly, etc. ... Kilojoule per mole are an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material, where energy is measured in units of 1000 joules, and the amount of material is measured in mole units. ... The poopie is the distance from the atomic nucleus to the outmost stable electron orbital in a atom that is at equilibrium. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 100 pm and 1 nm (10-10 m and 10-9 m). ... Picometre (American spelling: picometer) is an SI measure of length that is equal to 10−12 of a metre. ... The poopie is the distance from the atomic nucleus to the outmost stable electron orbital in a atom that is at equilibrium. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10 pm and 100 pm (10-11 m and 10-12 m). ... Picometre (American spelling: picometer) is an SI measure of length that is equal to 10−12 of a metre. ... Covalent radius in chemistry corresponds to half of the distance between two identical atomic nuclei, bound by a covalent bond. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 100 pm and 1 nm (10-10 m and 10-9 m). ... Picometre (American spelling: picometer) is an SI measure of length that is equal to 10−12 of a metre. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 100 pm and 1 nm (10-10 m and 10-9 m). ... Picometre (American spelling: picometer) is an SI measure of length that is equal to 10−12 of a metre. ... In physics, magnetism is a phenomenon by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ... It is the quantity of heat, Q, transmitted through a unit thickness, L, in a direction normal to a surface of unit area, A, due to a unit temperature gradient, ΔT, under steady state conditions and when the heat transfer is dependent only on the temperature gradient. ... In physics, thermal conductivity, λ, is the quantity of heat transmitted, due to unit temperature gradient, in unit time under steady conditions in a direction normal to a surface of unit area, when the heat transfer is dependent only on the temperature gradient thermal conductivity = heat flow rate / (distance × temperature... The bulk modulus K of a fluid or solid is the inverse of the compressibility: where p is pressure and V is volume. ... CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for chemical compounds, polymers, biological sequences, mixtures and alloys. ... Isotopes are forms of a chemical element whose nuclei have the same atomic number, Z, but different atomic masses, A. The word isotope, meaning at the same place, comes from the fact that all isotopes of an element are located at the same place on the periodic table. ... Natural abundance refers to the prevalence of different isotopes of an element as found in nature. ... Half-Life For a quantity subject to exponential decay, the half-life is the time required for the quantity to fall to half of its initial value. ... In physics, the decay mode describes a particular way a particle decays. ... The decay energy is the energy released by a nuclear decay. ... An electronvolt (symbol: eV) is the amount of energy gained by a single unbound electron when it falls through an electrostatic potential difference of one volt. ... In nuclear physics, a decay product, also known as a daughter product, is a nuclide resulting from the radioactive decay of a parent or precursor nuclide. ... Different isotopes of one chemical element may have different radioactive properties. ... Properties In physics, the neutron is a subatomic particle with no net electric charge and a mass of 939. ... A Synthetic radioisotope is a radioisotope that is not found in nature no matter by what mechanism it is formed. ... A day is any of several different units of time. ... In nuclear physics, beta decay (sometimes called neutron decay) is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... A Synthetic radioisotope is a radioisotope that is not found in nature no matter by what mechanism it is formed. ... A day is any of several different units of time. ... In nuclear physics, beta decay (sometimes called neutron decay) is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... Temperature and air pressure can vary from one place to another on the Earth, and can also vary in the same place with time. ...

Phosphorus, (from the Greek language Phosphoros meaning "light bearing"), is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent, nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus is commonly found in inorganic phosphate rocks and in all living cells. Due to its high reactivity, it is never found as a free element in nature. It emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen (hence its name, Latin for 'morning star', from Greek words meaning 'light' and 'bring'), occurs in several allotropic forms, and is an essential element for living organisms. The most important commercial use of phosphorus is in the production of fertilizers. It is also widely used in explosives, friction matches, fireworks, pesticides, toothpaste, and detergents. Greek (Greek Ελληνικά, IPA – Hellenic) constitutes its own branch of the Indo-European languages. ... A chemical element, often called simply element, is a substance that cannot be divided or changed into different substances by ordinary chemical methods. ... The periodic table of the chemical elements, also called the Mendeleev periodic table, is a tabular display of the known chemical elements. ... The atomic number (Z) is a term used in chemistry and physics to represent the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom. ... In chemistry, valency is the power of an atom of an element to combine with other atoms measured by the number of electrons which an atom will give, take, or share to form a chemical bond. ... Together with the metals and metalloids, a nonmetal is one of three categories of chemical elements as distinguished by ionization and bonding properties. ... The Nitrogen group is also known as IUPAC Group 15 (formerly Group V) of the periodic table. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Allotropy (Gr. ... Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. ... This article is concerned solely with chemical explosives. ... Household safety matches burning match A match is a simple and convenient means of producing fire under controlled circumstances and on demand. ... Several fireworks bursting Fireworks are classified as low explosive devices and form a distinct variety of pyrotechnics, whose definition also generally includes devices for military and industrial use. ... An airplane spreading pesticide. ... Modern toothpaste Toothpaste is a paste used to clean teeth, almost always in conjunction with a toothbrush. ... A detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ...

Notable characteristics

Common phosphorus forms a waxy white solid that has a characteristic disagreeable smell. Pure forms of the element are colorless and transparent. This non metal is not soluble in water, but it is soluble in carbon disulfide. Pure phosphorus ignites spontaneously in air and burns to phosphorus pentoxide. A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution. ... Water (from the Old English word wæter and the German word Wasser) is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless substance in its pure form that is essential to all known forms of life and is known also as the most universal solvent. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ...

Forms

Phosphorus exists in three allotropic forms: white (or yellow), red, and black (or violet). Other allotropic forms may exist. The most common are red and white phosphorus, both of which consist of networks of tetrahedrally arranged groups of four phosphorus atoms. The tetrahedra of white phosphorus form separate groups; the tetrahedra of red phosphorus are linked into chains. White phosphorus burns on contact with air and on exposure to heat or light. Allotropy (Gr. ... A tetrahedron (plural: tetrahedra) is a polyhedron composed of four triangular faces, three of which meet at each vertex. ... Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ...

Phosphorus also exists in kinetically and thermodynamically favored forms. They are separated by a transition temperature of -3.8 °C. One is known as the "alpha" form, the other "beta". Red phosphorus is comparatively stable and sublimes at a vapor pressure of 1 atm at 170 °C but burns from impact or frictional heating. A black phosphorus allotrope exists which has a structure similar to graphite – the atoms are arranged in hexagonal sheet layers and will conduct electricity. The degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Sublimation of an element or substance is a conversion between the solid and the gaseous phases of matter, with no intermediate liquid stage. ... The vapor pressure is the pressure (if the vapor is mixed with other gases, the partial pressure) of a vapor. ... Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek γραφειν: to draw/write, for its use in pencils) is one of the allotropes of carbon. ... Properties For alternative meanings see atom (disambiguation). ... A regular hexagon A hexagon (also known as sexagon) is a polygon with six edges and six vertices. ... Electrical conduction is the movement of electrically charged particles through matter. ...

Applications

Concentrated phosphoric acids, which can consist of 70% to 75% P₂O₅ are very important to agriculture and farm production in the form of fertilizers. Global demand for fertilizers has led to large increases in phosphate (PO₄^3-) production in the second half of the 20th century. Other uses; Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric(V) acid, is a weak mineral acid with the chemical formula H3PO4. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. ... In chemistry, a phosphate is a polyatomic ion or radical consisting of one phosphorus atom and four oxygen. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

• Phosphates are utilized in the making of special glasses that are used for sodium lamps.
• Bone-ash, calcium phosphate, is used in the production of fine china and to make mono-calcium phosphate which is employed in baking powder.
• This element is also an important component in steel production, in the making of phosphor bronze, and in many other related products.
• Trisodium phosphate is widely used in cleaning agents to soften water and for preventing pipe/boiler tube corrosion.
• White phosphorus is used in military applications as incendiary bombs, for smoke-screening as smoke pots and smoke bombs, and in tracer ammunition.
• Red phosphorus is essential for manufacturing matchbook strikers, flares, and, most notoriously, methamphetamine.
• In trace amounts, phosphorus is used as a dopant for N-type semiconductors.
• Miscellaneous uses; used in the making of safety matches, pyrotechnics, pesticides, toothpaste, detergents, etc.

The materials definition of a glass is a uniform amorphous solid material, usually produced when a suitably viscous molten material cools very rapidly, thereby not giving enough time for a regular crystal lattice to form. ... A sodium vapor lamp is a gas discharge lamp which uses sodium in an excited state to produce light. ... Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 is found in nature as a rock in Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Kola (Russia) and in smaller quantities in some other countries. ... A rare Dresden porcelain figurine Porcelain is a type of hard semi-translucent ceramic generally fired at a higher temperature than glazed earthenware, or stoneware pottery. ... Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used in baking. ... Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper with 3. ... Trisodium phosphate, available at most hardware stores in white powder form, is a cleaning agent and degreaser, commonly used to prepare surfaces for painting (household), sold as TSP. It can also be called trisodium orthophosphate and has the chemical formula Na3PO4. ... A water softener reduces calcium or magnesium concentration in hard water. ... Corrosion Corrosion is deterioration of useful properties in a material due to reactions with its environment. ... This article is about the military applications of white phosphorus. ... Incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, or white phosphorus. ... A U.S. Army Humvee laying a smoke screen A smoke-screen is a release of smoke in order to mask the movement or location of military units such as infantry, tanks or ships. ... Smoke bombs are a firework designed to produce colored smoke upon ignition. ... Tracers are special bullets that contain a powder in their base that burns very brightly during their flight. ... Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly psychologically addictive. ... A dopant is an impurity that is added in small amounts to a pure substance to change its properties. ... An N-type semiconductor is obtained by carrying out a process of doping, that is adding a certain type of atoms to the semiconductor in order to increase the number of free (in this case negative) charge carriers. ... Pyrotechnics is a field of study often thought synonymous with the manufacture of fireworks, but more accurately has a wider scope that includes items for military and industrial uses. ... An airplane spreading pesticide. ... Modern toothpaste Toothpaste is a paste used to clean teeth, almost always in conjunction with a toothbrush. ... A detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ...

Biological role

Phosphorus is a key element in all known forms of life. Inorganic phosphorus in the form of the phosphate PO₄^3- plays a major role in biological molecules such as DNA and RNA where it forms part of the structural backbone of these molecules. Living cells also utilize phosphate to transport cellular energy via adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Nearly every cellular process that uses energy gets it in the form of ATP. Phospholipids are the main structural components of all cellular membranes. Calcium phosphate salts are used by animals to stiffen their bones. Life is a multi-faceted concept. ... Space-filling model of a section of DNA molecule Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or deoxyribose nucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life (and many viruses). ... Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a nucleic acid consisting of a string of covalently-bound nucleotides. ... Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the nucleotide known in biochemistry as the molecular currency of intracellular energy transfer; that is, ATP is able to store and transport chemical energy within cells. ... Two schematic representations of a phospholipid. ... Calcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 is found in nature as a rock in Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Kola (Russia) and in smaller quantities in some other countries. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Grays illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. ...

History

Phosphorus (Greek phosphoros, meaning "light bearer" which was the ancient name for the planet Venus) was discovered by German alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669 through a preparation from urine. Working in Hamburg, Brand attempted to distill salts by evaporating urine, and in the process produced a white material that glowed in the dark and burned brilliantly. Since that time, phosphorescence has been used to describe substances that shine in the dark without burning. (*min temperature refers to cloud tops only) Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 9. ... Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, mysticism, and religion. ... Hening Brand (c. ... // Events Samuel Pepys stopped writing his diary. ... Urine is liquid waste excreted by the kidneys and eventually expelled from the body in a process known as urination. ... Position of Hamburg in Germany Hamburgs central broadway Jungfernstieg at the Alster lake, between 1900 and 1914 This article is about the city in Germany. ... Strathisla whisky distillery in Keith, Scotland Distillation is a means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points. ... In chemistry, salt is a general term used for ionic compounds composed of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, so that the product is neutral and without a net charge. ... Phosphorescence is the result of a radiative (light emitting) transition involving a change in the spin multiplicity of (in most cases) a molecule from excited state singlet to excited state triplet. ...

Early matches used white phosphorus in their composition, which was dangerous due to its toxicity. Murders, suicides and accidental poisonings resulted from its use (An apocryphal tale tells of a woman attempting to murder her husband with white phosphorus in his food, which was detected by the stew giving off luminous steam). In addition, exposure to the vapors gave match workers a necrosis of the bones of the jaw, the infamous "phossy-jaw." When red phosphorus was discovered, with its far lower flammability and toxicity, it was adopted as a safer alternative for match manufacture. Household safety matches burning match A match is a simple and convenient means of producing fire under controlled circumstances and on demand. ... The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ... Grays illustration of a human femur, a typically recognized bone. ... Phossy-jaw is a deadly occupational hazard for those who work with white phosphorus in an environment without proper safeguards. ...

Occurrence

Due to its reactivity to air and many other oxygen containing substances, phosphorus is not found free in nature but it is widely distributed in many different minerals. Phosphate rock, which is partially made of apatite (an impure tri-calcium phosphate mineral) is an important commercial source of this element. Large deposits of apatite are in Russia, Morocco, Florida, Idaho, Tennessee, Utah, and elsewhere. There are however concerns over how long these phosphorus deposits will last. USA will deplete their deposits around 2035. China and Morocco have the largest known deposits today, but they too will eventually be depleted. During that depletion there could be a serious problem for the worlds food production since phosphorus is such an essential ingredient in fertilizers. General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless Atomic mass 15. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Apatite is a group of minerals, usually referring to: hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite, and chlorapatite, named for high concentrations of OH-, F-, or Cl- ions, respectively, in the crystal lattice. ... General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush (R) Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne Official languages none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... State nickname: Volunteer State Other U.S. States Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis (largest metropolitan area is Nashville) Governor Phil Bredesen Official languages English Area 109,247 km² (36th)  - Land 106,846 km²  - Water 2,400 km² (2. ... State nickname: Beehive State Other U.S. States Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. ...

The white allotrope can be produced using several different methods. In one process, tri-calcium phosphate, which is derived from phosphate rock, is heated in an electric or fuel-fired furnace in the presence of carbon and silica. Elemental phosphorus is then liberated as a vapor and can be collected under phosphoric acid. General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2. ... Phosphoric acid, also known as orthophosphoric acid or phosphoric(V) acid, is a weak mineral acid with the chemical formula H3PO4. ...

Precautions

This is a particularly poisonous element with 50 mg being the average fatal dose (white phosphorus is generally considered to be the lethal form of phosphorus while phosphate and orthophosphate are essential nutrients). The allotrope white phosphorus should be kept under water at all times and therefore presents a significant fire hazard due to its extreme reactivity to atmospheric oxygen, and it should only be manipulated with forceps since contact with skin can cause severe burns. Chronic white phosphorus poisoning of unprotected workers leads to necrosis of the jaw called "phossy-jaw". Ingestion of white phosphorus may cause a medical condition known as "Smoking Stool Syndrome". Fluorophosphate esters are among the most potent neurotoxins known but most inorganic phosphates are relatively nontoxic. Phosphate pollution occurs where fertilizers or detergents have leached into soils. The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... The milligram (symbol mg) is an SI unit of mass. ... A large bonfire Fire is a form of combustion. ... Model of the layers of human skin In zootomy and dermatology, skin is an organ of the integumentary system; which is composed of a layer of tissues that protect underlying muscles and organs. ... Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells/living tissue (compare with apoptosis - programmed cell death). ... Phossy-jaw is a deadly occupational hazard for those who work with white phosphorus in an environment without proper safeguards. ... In organic chemistry and biochemistry esters are substances where an organic group replaces a hydrogen atom (or more than one) in an oxygen acid. ... A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells, or neurons, usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels. ... For the heavy metal band see Soil (band) Soil is a general term for the material that lies on the surface of the earth, supporting the growth of plants and serving as a habitat for animal life from microrganisms to small animals. ...

When the white form is exposed to sunlight or when it is heated in its own vapor to 250 °C, it is transmuted to the red form, which does not phosphoresce in air. The red allotrope does not spontaneously ignite in air and is not as dangerous as the white form. Nevertheless, it should be handled with care because it does revert to white phosphorus in some temperature ranges and it also emits highly toxic fumes that consist of phosphorus oxides when it is heated. For a list of biologically injurious substances, including toxins and other materials, as well as their effects, see poison. ... An oxide is a chemical compound of oxygen with other chemical elements. ...

Isotopes

Some common isotopes of phosphorus include: Isotopes are forms of a chemical element whose nuclei have the same atomic number, Z, but different atomic masses, A. The word isotope, meaning at the same place, comes from the fact that all isotopes of an element are located at the same place on the periodic table. ...

• ³²P (radioactive). Phosphorus-32 is a beta-emitter (1.71 MeV) with a half-life of 14.3 days. It is used routinely in life-science laboratories, primarily to produce radiolabeled DNA and RNA probes, typically for use in Northern blots or Southern blots.

• ³³P (radioactive). Phosphorus-33 is a beta-emitter (0.25 MeV) with a half-life of 25.4 days. It is used in life-science laboratories in applications in which lower energy beta emissions are advantageous, for example, DNA sequencing.

Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles. ... The Northern Blot is a technique used in molecular biology research to study gene expression. ... A Southern blot is a method in molecular biology of enhancing the result of an agarose gel electrophoresis by marking specific DNA sequences. ... Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles. ...

Spelling

The only correct spelling of the element is phosphorus. There does exist a word phosphorous, but it is the adjectival form for the smaller valency: so, just as sulfur forms sulfurous and sulfuric compounds, so phosphorus forms phosphorous and phosphoric compounds. General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ...

References

• Los Alamos National Laboratory – Phosphorus

External links

• WebElements.com – Phosphorus
• EnvironmentalChemistry.com – Phosphorus
• Entrez PubMed - Acute Yellow Phosphorus Poisoning