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1800-102-2727One fine night in 1669, a German physician Hennig Brand, inspired by the various features of alchemy, tried to create the fabled philosopher’s stone.
Earlier that day, Brand, in his laboratory, had been heating a mixture of sand and charcoal with a tar-like substance produced by boiling down huge gallons of urine over two weeks.
Unbeknownst to him, this was going to lead to a truly world-altering discovery!
Hours later, a white vapour formed and condensed into thick drops that gleamed brightly for hours. This glowy, waxy substance was called phosphorus, by Brand, a Latin term for things that give off light.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Phosphorus, is a highly reactive non-metal, denoted by the symbol P and atomic number is 15. It lies below nitrogen in Group 15 (pnictogens) of the modern periodic table.
Phosphorus is so reactive that it is never found in a free state in Earth’s crust. It is majorly present in phosphates (PO43-such as apatite and fluorapatite. Pure phosphorus is typically mined from phosphates.
Phosphates are also essential substances in the human body because they are part of DNA materials and contribute to the delivery of energy. Phosphates can also be commonly found in plants.
The red matchstick heads actually have red phosphorus on them. When they are rubbed against the surface, friction between the two generates heat and causes red phosphorus to be converted to white phosphorus which spontaneously ignites in the air.
With a sufficient amount of oxygen, phosphorus forms p4o10.
With an insufficient amount of oxygen, phosphorus forms p4o6.
Phosphorus exists in a combined state due to its highly reactive nature. It is majorly present as phosphates. Apart from that it also forms hydrides, oxides and oxoacids of phosphorus are also well known.
Commonly found phosphate compounds are: Calcium phosphate: Ca3(PO4)2 , apatites: Ca5(PO4)2(OH), fluorapatite: Ca5(PO4)2F; and chlorapatite: Ca5(PO4)2Cl. The most popular phosphate fertilizer contains the compound calcium dihydrogen phosphate, or superphosphate:Ca(H2PO4)2
Hydride of phosphorus is known as phosphine (PH3) and is obtained on reacting sodium hydroxide with phosphorus.
Phosphorus pentoxide, P4O10 is formed when white phosphorus is heated in sufficient oxygen supply, and it acts as a dehydrating agent.
Tetraphosphorus hexaoxide, P4O6 is an anhydride of phosphorous acid. Phosphorus in this compound is in +3 oxidation state. It is formed when white phosphorus is heated in an insufficient oxygen supply.
Phosphorus forms oxoacids when these oxides react with water. Phosphorous pentoxide reacts vigorously with water to form orthophosphoric acid where phosphorus is in the +5 oxidation state.
Tetraphosphorus hexa-oxide P4O6, reacts with water to form phosphorous acid.
When orthophosphoric acid is heated at about 2500Cit forms pyrophosphoric acid.
Meta-phosphoric acid is formed when orthophosphoric acid is heated at 850 K.
Industrially elemental phosphorous is isolated from calcium phosphate, obtained from phosphorous rock [Ca3(PO4)2] by heating it with sand (Sio2) and coke at very high temperatures (around 1500 K):
Using aluminium in the reaction mixture helps in conducting the same reaction at lower temperatures.
Q.1. What is the elemental state of phosphorus?
Answer: Elemental phosphorus is solid and exists as a tetrahedral shaped P4 molecule.
Q.2. Complete the following reactions:
Q.3. What is the state of phosphorus at STP?
Answer: Elemental phosphorous is solid at STP with the formula P4.
Q.4. What is the oxidation state of Phosphorus in Na4p2o7?
Answer:
Let the oxidation state of p be x.
So oxidation state of phosphorous is +5 in Na4p2O7.
Question1. What does phosphorous do in a human body?
Answer: Phosphorus is a major component of bones, teeth, as well as DNA and RNA. It is an integral part of our cells, as phospholipids and cell membranes. Moreover, it is an active energy carrier in our body in the form of adenosine triphosphate.
Question2. Why is phosphorous known as the Devil’s element?
Answer: This was due to its uncanny glow and its tendency to undergo combustion and burst into flames. Also, because it was the 13th element, it was considered related to the Devil.
Question3. Mentions the food sources that are rich in phosphorus?
Answer: Phosphorous is easily found in protein-rich foods such as eggs, poultry, meat, fish, dairy products, beans and nuts. Organic phosphorus obtained from animal sources is more readily absorbed by the body than those obtained from plant sources.
Question4. Is phosphorus harmful to the human body?
Answer: Elemental phosphorous is toxic. Hence, ingestion of elemental phosphorous can typically cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe poisoning may lead to, coma, hypotension, dysrhythmias, and eventually death.