PHOSPHORUS

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 2p3

Discovery of Phosphorus• 17th centenary alchemists searching for a

way to make “philosophers stone” a magical substance that turns base metals into gold.

• Hennig Brandt discovered Phosphorus in 1669 when he was trying to make “philosophers stone”

• The then unknown substance was dripping from his retort in waxy yellow drops

• It got its name from when he heated it slightly it caught in fire right away giving it the name of phosphorus which means “bringer of light” in Greek

Sources Of Phosphorus

•Vital element to life •Found in DNA and RNA

•Once extracted from urine but no need any more found in phosphate ores

•No need make in lab enough made commercially

•Phosphorus never directly used in environment

•Naturally found in food

•Mine for in Russia, Morocco, Tunisia, Togo and Nauru

•Too much phosphate can cause health problems like kidney damage and osteoporosis

Characteristics of Phosphorus•Most common form of phosphorus are white phosphorus and red phosphorus

•A rare one is black phosphorus

• One form of white phosphorus is a waxy white solid It glows in the dark

• It is a deadly poison

•The second is when its pure it is colorless and transparent •It is insoluble in water, but soluble in carbon disulphide •Also it catches fire spontaneously in the air

•At 250°C the white phosphorus is converted to red phosphorus

•It doesn’t catch fire spontaneously and is a little less dangerous than white phosphorus

The density is 1.82 g/ml at room temperature

The melting point is 44.2 °C

The boiling point is 280 °C

•Black phosphorous is made under high pressure

•It looks like graphite

•It also has the ability to conduct electricity

Uses of PhosphorusPast

In 1831 Charles Sauria made a "strike-anywhere" match. Its head was a mixture of white phosphorus, potassium chlorate, gum, and starch. When they were rubbed against rough surfaces they ignited. These matches were very poisonous and killed thousands of match-makers or crippled them.

Future

In the future phosphorus could be used to create safer fire starting ways.

Present

Since 1844 we have still used phosphorus but it is on the side of the box and it is the red phosphorus. When the head strikes the red phosphorus the antimony(III) sulfide and potassium chlorate create friction which changes the red phosphorus to white.

Bohr-Rutherford Diagram

15=P

15=N

Bibliography

• Darling, David. "Phosphorus(P)." The Internet Encyclopedia of Science. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/P/phosphorus.html>.

• Winter, Mark. "Phosphorus." Web Elements. 1993. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.webelements.com/phosphorus/>.

• "Phosphorus-P." Lenntech. 1998. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/p-en.htm#Properties>.