What is Phosphorus?
Phosphorus, (from the Greek language phôs meaning "light", and phoros meaning "bearer"), 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.
Phosphorus exists in several allotropes, most commonly white, red and black. White phosphorus (P4) contains only four atoms, resulting in very high ring strain and instability. White phosphorus glows in the dark and is highly explosive as well as toxic. Red phosphorus has a network form which reduces strain and gives greater stability. Red phosphorous does not catch fire in air at temperatures below 240°C whereas white phosphorus ignites at about 40°C. Black phosphorus is amorphous and is the least reactive allotrope.
Due to its high reactivity, phosphorus is never found as a free element in nature. It emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen (hence its Greek derivation and the Latin meaning 'morning star') and is an essential element for living organisms. The most important commercial use of phosphorus-based chemicals is the production of fertilizers. They are also widely used in explosives, nerve agents, friction matches, fireworks, pesticides, toothpaste, and detergents.
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Relevant sites for Phosphorus:
Chemical Reactivity
Organophosphorus compounds having phosphorus oxidation states ranging from –3 to +5, as shown in the following table, are well known (some simple inorganic ...
Phosphorus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Due to its high reactivity, phosporus is never found as a free element in nature. ... Organic compounds of phosphorus form a wide class of materials, ...
Phosphorus pentasulfide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Its melting point is 276-284 °C. The compound is soluble in CS2 and benzene but it react with most organic compounds. Its structure is related to that of ...
Phosphotyrosine - Columbia Encyclopedia article about Phosphotyrosine
tyrosine (tī`rəsēn), organic compound, one of the 20 amino acids amino acid (əmē`nō), any one of a class of simple organic compounds containing carbon, ...
inorganic phosphate - Columbia Encyclopedia article about ...
Columbia Encyclopedia® article about inorganic phosphate. inorganic phosphate. ... Inorganic compounds by element · Inorganic Crystal Structure Database ...
The Nature of Phosphorous in Soils
The inorganic phosphate compounds in this fixed P pool are more crystalline in their structure and less soluble than those compounds considered to be in the ... |
