Phosphorus

History
(Derived from the Greek, Phosphoros, which has
the light, the ancient name for the planet Venus
when it appeared before sunrise). A scientist from
Germany, Brand discovered phosphorus in 1669
by accident in a trial dig rocks.

Phosphorus is found by Hannig Brand in 1669 in

Hamburg, Germany. He discovered this element
by means of 'distill' urine through the water
evaporation process and after he vaporize 50 urine
buckets of water, he had to figure out what he
wants. Its name comes from the Latin Phosphoros
which means 'bearer of light' because of its
uniqueness that is glowing in the dark (glow-inthe dark).

Phosphorus can be found in the earth in

the water, soil and sediments. Unlike
other matter cycles phosphorus
compounds can not be found in the air
that have a high pressure. This is
because phosphorus is usually liquid at
normal temperature and pressure.

This is mainly do to cycle back through the water,

soil and atmosphere sedimen. In phosphorus cycle
can mainly be found as very small dust particles.
moving slowly from the sediment on land and in
the sediment, living organisms, and much slower
than return to their homeland and sediment.
Phosphorus cycle is the slowest one cycle of the
problems described here. Phosphorus is most
often found in rock formations and marine
sediments as phosphate salt. Phosphate salts
released from weathering through the soil are
usually soluble in water and will be absorbed by
plants.

Because the amount of phosphorus in the

soil are generally small, often a limiting
factor for plant growth. That is why people
often use phosphates as fertilizer on
farmland. Phosphate also limiting factors
for plant growth in marine ecosystems,
because they are not very soluble in water.
Animals absorb phosphate by eating plants
or plant-eating animals phosphorus cycle
through plants and animals much faster
than it does through rocks and sediments.
When animals and plants die, the
phosphate will return to the land or the
ocean again during decay.

After that, phosphorus will end in

sedimentary rock formations or
more, remain there for millions of
years. Finally, phosphorus is
released back through weathering
and the cycle begins again.

Allotropes of Phosporus
Phosphorus is a non-metallic element in the periodic
table by the symbol P, atomic number 15. phosphorus in
nature mostly found in the phosphate compound as rock
phosphate. Phosphorus has three forms (allotropes) that
white phosphorus, red phosphorus and black
phosphorus. White phosphorus is composed of four P
atoms with tetrahedral shape, while the red phosphorus
and black phosphorus-owned structure is not known
clearly but suspected polymer or combination of
molecules P4.

b) Nature of Chemical Elements Phosporus

White phosphorus is highly reactive, emit light,
flammable in air, toxic. White phosphorus is
used as a raw material in the manufacture of
phosphoric acid industry.
Red phosphorus is not reactive, less toxic. Red
phosphorus is used as a mixture of fine sand and
the field of manufacture of friction matches.

White phosphorus is obtained from

phosphate rock is heated in an
electric furnace at a temperature of
about 900 C with coke and silica
(SiO2). This heating causes the
phosphor to steam is condensed in the
condenser so obtained liquid white
phosphorus. While phosphorus is
obtained from heating black white
white phosphorus at high pressure
and has a metallic luster and is a
semiconductor, but at high pressures
phosphor exhibits a metallic black.

Tributes of White Phosphorus

White phosphorus is an allotrope of phosphorus
yellowish white, soft, has a pungent smell like
garlic as well as more reactive and more toxic than
red phosphorus and black phosphorus. White
phosphorus is said to be more reactive because of
the open air will burn by itself. Because of this
reactivity plain white phosphorus stored in water
or alcohol or inert solvents that do not dissolve or
react with phosphorus. White phosphorus soluble
in benzene and carbon disulfide

One abuse phosphorus is used as a bomb.

Phosphorus applied as a bomb that white
phosphorus was given the pseudonym "Willy
Pete".
When white phosphorus fired or burned, the
air will react with oxygen to form pentaoksida
phosphorus (P2O5). Although phosphorus
dangerous but the most dangerous is located
in the combustion process burning phosphorus
and phosphorus not result in an explosion.

Combustion of phosphorus in the air going very

exothermic which generates a temperature of
about 800 C. This high temperature will
damage body tissue such as burns when the
organs of the body. While the result of burning
white phosphorus in the form of P2O5 in the
form of smoke. The resulting smoke is very
dangerous because in addition to the toxic fumes
are corrosive or even this can also react with the
organs of the human body.

Therefore, if the phosphorus fired or used as

a bomb when burned, will destroy most
tissues of the body. For example if the eye, it
will cause blindness, if inhaled will damage
the esophagus lungs even if in greater
numbers, if the skin will cause burns and
will be even worse if exposed in large
quantities.

Red phosphorus is formed when

white phosphorus is heated or
irradiated with UV light resulting
phosphorus atoms bind to each other
in a tetrahedral shape. Red
phosphorus is normally used for
explosives and fireworks. Red
phosphorus has the properties floured,
non-volatile, non-toxic, and does not
glow in the dark. Melting point 600C
red phosphorus. red phosphorus is
more stable than the white phosphorus
and in the air does not ignite
spontaneously.

Black phosphorus is less

reactive than red phosphorus
and more stable than red
phosphorus. Phosphorus
atoms are arranged in a
horizontal plane through a
covalent bond. Inter-field
bonding van der walls are
weak.

Isotopes
Twenty-three isotopes of phosphorus are
known, including all possibilities from 24P up to
46
P, only 31. P is stable and is therefore present
at 100% abundance. The half-integer nuclear
spin and high abundance of 31P make
phosphorus-31 NMR spectroscopy a very
useful analytical tool in studies of phosphoruscontaining samples

Phosphorus Sources
Elemental phosphorus in nature not in a free state, but
bound with other elements in the form of the mineral
compound. For example, phosphate rock containing Ca3
(PO4) 2 and apatite. Calcium phosphate is the main
constituent of bones and teeth. Phosphorus can be found in
the earth in water, soil and sediment. Unlike other matter
cycles phosphorus compounds can not be found in the air
with high pressure. This is because phosphorus is usually
liquid at normal temperatures and pressures. Large deposits
have been found in Russia, Morocco and the State of
Forida.

In nature, phosphorus is found in two forms, namely

organic phosphate compound (plants and animals) and
inorganic phosphate (water and land). Organic phosphate
from the dead animals and plants described by
decomposer (decomposition) into inorganic phosphate.
Inorganic phosphate dissolved in water or sea water will
be eroded and deposited in marine sediments. Therefore,
phosphate found in rocks and fossils.

Phosphate from rocks and fossils to erode

and form the dissolved inorganic phosphate
in soil and sea water. Inorganic phosphate is
then absorbed by the plant roots again. This
cycle is repeated continuously. Phosphorus is
experienced in the form attached as Caphosphate, feminist or Al-phosphate, phytate
or protein. Bakery role in phosphorus cycle:
Bacillus, Pesudomonas, Aerobacter
aerogenes, Xanthomonas, etc.
Microorganisms (Bacillus, Pseudomonas,
Xanthomonas, Aerobacter aerogenes)

Making Phosphorus
The main source of phosphorus industry is Ca3 (PO4) 2. In
the process, Ca3 (PO4) 2 is mixed with carbon and silica
(SiO2) at temperatures 1400C - 1500C (with electrical
sparks). SiO2 reacts with Ca3 (PO4) 2 at temperatures that
result in P4O10 (g).

This reaction was as follows:

2 Ca3 (PO4) 2 (l) + 6 SiO2 (l) 6 CaSiO3 (l) +
P4O10 (g)
Then, P4O10 (g) is reduced with carbon, the
reaction is as follows:
P4O10 (g) + C (s) P4 (g) + 10 CO2 (g)
P4 (g) occurring crystallized and stored in liquid
CS2 or in the water. That was to avoid oxidation
with oxygen from the air that quickly occurs at a
temperature of 30C form of phosphorus flame.
P4 processing result is a form of phosphorus
allotropes, namely white phosphorus.

Usefulness Phosphorus
Phosphorus can be used for the manufacture of
matches after being mixed with carbon and
sulfur. Military use as a guide determine the
target or targets In addition to the military
sphere. Turns white phosphorus used in the
consumer goods that we use daily, such as soft
drinks and toothpaste. Broadly, white
phosphorus is used in industry to make
phosphoric acid or other chemicals to be used as
fertilizer, food preservatives, and cleaning
agents.

In small amounts, these substances are also used in

pesticides and fireworks. Phosphoric acid is saturated,
contains 70-75% P2O5, P2O5 which is an important
ingredient in the agricultural field firing. Phosphate is
also used in the manufacture of special glass, as used in
sodium lamps.

The Biological Effects of Phosphorus

The effects from inhaling white phosphorus acid in the
short term is coughing and irritation of the throat and lungs.
While in the long term can lead to a condition called phossy
jaw, the jaw bone fracture.

Consume or drink white phosphorus contained

in soda certain amounts may cause liver or
heart damage, kidney failure, vomiting,
abdominal kejan, weakness and death. But
there is no research that says white
phosphorus can lead to impotence or
infertility. Also there are no studies that prove
the white phosphorus can cause cancer.