Page 50 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Discovery
It was discovered by Hennig Brand in 1669 from the remains of evaporated urine. He boiled up more than 50 buckets of urine to get the result he needed.
Technology
White phosphorus has
been used to make
incendiary (burning)
bombs. Red phosphorus
is used for the striking
surface of safety matches. Phosphorus compounds
are widely applied in the manufacture of fertilisers. Phosphorus can also help make special steels and phosphor bronze. Sodium phosphate is a water
softener and helps prevent corrosion of hot water systems.
 This standard chemistry demonstration uses phosphorus. White phosphorus ignites in the air in a bell jar, using up the oxygen during combustion.The water level rises, showing roughly the proportion of oxygen that was in the air.
Sticks of highly reactive white phosphorus.
When white phosphorus
is heated in the absence of air, it changes to relatively unreactive red phosphorus.
Geology
Phosphorus is not found as the native element. It is extracted from phosphate ores.The main phosphate mineral is apatite (calcium phosphate, CaPO4)
Biology
Phosphorus is present in all living cells, nerves, teeth, and bones. Exposure to phosphorus can lead to poisoning and the dissolving of the jaw (called phossy jaw).
For more on phosphorus, see Volume 11: Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Elements set.
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