_________________________ Phosphorus 15 P 30.973761(2) …

Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Arsenic
Antimony
Bismuth

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Posted by: ThE_NiTrOgEn_GrOuP Original: 1/3/2006 11:44 AM Views: 1 Comments: 0 eProps: 0 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

_________________________

Phosphorus

15
P
30.973761(2)

Name: phosphorus
Symbol: P
Atomic number: 15
Atomic weight: 30.973761 (2)
CAS Registry ID: 7723-14-0

Group number: 15
Group name: Pnictogen
Period number: 3
Block: p-block

Hi! My name is Phosphorus, and I am another abundant crustal element. It comes from the Greek language phôs meaning "light", and phoros meaning "bearer”. I am found combined with oxygen and other elements in minerals known as phosphates. I occur in all living organisms. For example: the humans bones are made up of a calcium-phosphorus compound called hyrdoxyapatite. I am also a multivalent non-metal found in the nitrogen group.

In 1669, Germen alchemist Hennig Brand was working through a preparation of urine and he discovered me! He attempted to distill salts by evaporating urine, when this was happened a white material was produced. It glowed in the dark and burned brilliantly. That’s how I came in! Since them, that form of me has been used to describe substance that shine in the dark without burning.

The most significant compounds of my element is when I am with oxygen. More than 10 billion kilograms of phosphoric acid manufactured here in the US every year. My acid for is manufactured in fertilizers, detergents, and a host of other products. When I am diluted, I am used to give various soft drinks their tart or sour taste.

* Hint: The next time you drink a can of cola, look for my acid form in the list of ingredients!*

If you want to know more about me, check out these websites:

- www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/P/key.html

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus

- http://www.scescape.net/~woods/elements/phosphorus.html