Phosphorus (P)
"The Glow-Stick, a hero essential for life's energy, who literally glows in the dark."
A memorable persona to anchor P in your mind.
1.823
Grams per cm³
44.15
Celsius (°C)
180
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The striking surface on a box of matches.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1669
Discovered By
Hennig Brand
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Greek 'phosphoros', meaning bringer of light."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
30.974 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
280.5°C
Electron Configuration
[Ne] 3s23p3
1st Ionization Energy
10.487 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A waxy white or powdery red solid. White form glows in the dark."
Did You Know?
The element's name means 'light-bringer' in Greek, as the white phosphorus form glows faintly in the dark when exposed to air (chemiluminescence).
It was the first element to be discovered that was not known since ancient times; Hennig Brand discovered it in 1669 by boiling down vast quantities of urine.
Phosphorus is a critical component of DNA, RNA, and ATP, the main energy-carrying molecule in cells, making it essential for all known life.
The red phosphorus on the striking surface of a matchbox is much more stable and less toxic than the highly reactive and poisonous white phosphorus.