Fosfor / Phosphorus (P)

Fosfor je hemijski element koji ima simbol P i atomski broj 15. On je viševalentan nemetal. U prirodi se često nalazi u neorganskom fosfatnom kamenju. Fosfor je sastavni dio nukleinskih kiselina — DNK (dezoksiribonukleinske kiseline) i RNK (ribonukleinske kiseline) i esencijalan element za sve ćelije, pa se zato svrstava u biogene elemente. Najznačajnija industrijska upotreba fosfornih hemikalija je za pravljenje đubriva. Fosforne smjese se koriste i u eksplozivima, nervnim gasovima, pirotehnici, pesticidima, pastama za zube i deterdžentima. 

Fosfor se može pronaći u više alotropskih modifikacija, najčešće kao beli, crveni i crni. Sjaj fosfora je bila atrakcija za vreme njegovog otkrića 1669. godine, ali mehanizam kojim je sijao nije opisan sve do 1974. godine. Znalo se još prije da ako bi stavili fosfor u teglu, sijao bi i posle kratkog vremena prestao.  Reakcija sa kiseonikom se dešava na površini tečnog ili čvrstog fosfora, formirajući kratkotrajne molekule HPO i P2O2, koji oboje emituju vidljivu svetlost. Reakcija je spora, pa on sija duže vremena čak i u zatvorenoj tegli. Reakcija koja daje fosforu sjaj zove se luminescencija.

Zbog reaktivnosti sa vazduhom i mnogim kiseoničnim jedinjenjima, fosfor se ne nalazi elementaran u prirodi ali ga ima puno u mnogim drugim oblicima. Fosforni kamen, koji se delimično sadrži od apatita je bitan komercijalan izvor ovog elementa. Velika izvorišta apatita se nalaze u Kini, Rusiji, Maroku, Floridi, Ajdahu, Juti i na drugim mjestima..

Phosphorus is a chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. It is a multivalent non-metal. In nature, it is often found in inorganic phosphate rocks. Phosphorus is an integral part of nucleic acids - DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) and is an essential element for all cells, so it is classified as a biogenic element. The most important industrial use of phosphorus chemicals is for making fertilizers. Phosphorus mixtures are also used in explosives, nerve gases, pyrotechnics, pesticides, toothpastes and detergents.

Phosphorus can be found in several allotropic modifications, most often as white, red and black. The luster of phosphorus was an attraction during its discovery in 1669, but the mechanism by which it shone was not described until 1974. It was known before that if they put phosphorus in a jar, it would shine and after a short time it would stop. The reaction with oxygen takes place on the surface of liquid or solid phosphorus, forming short-lived molecules of HPO and P2O2, which both emit visible light. The reaction is slow, so it shines for a long time, even in a closed jar. The reaction that gives phosphorus a glow is called luminescence.

Due to its reactivity with air and many oxygen compounds, phosphorus is not found elementally in nature but is abundant in many other forms. Phosphor stone, which is partly contained in apatite, is an important commercial source of this element. Large sources of apatite are found in China, Russia, Morocco, Florida, Idaho, Utah and elsewhere.