Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the 15th chemical element, symbol P. It is in the third period of the periodic table of elements and group VA. Phosphorus exists in all cells of the human body. It is an essential substance for maintaining bones and teeth, and participates in almost all physiological chemical reactions. Phosphorus is also an important substance that makes the heart beat regularly, maintains normal kidney function, and transmits nerve stimulation. Without phosphorus, niacin (also known as vitamin B3) cannot be absorbed; the normal function of phosphorus requires vitamin D (vitamin food) and calcium (calcium food) to maintain.
Phosphorus was first discovered in the cosmic remnants of exploding stars. New observations of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A reveal the latest evidence for the presence of phosphorus. It is one of two elements discovered in deep space that may give scientists clues about the possibility of life in the universe. Elemental phosphorus has several allotropes. Among them, white phosphorus or yellow phosphorus is a colorless or light yellow transparent crystalline solid. White phosphorus is almost insoluble in water and easily soluble in carbon disulfide solvent. When heated under high pressure it turns into black phosphorus. White phosphorus can be converted into red phosphorus by being placed or heated at 250°C in isolation from air for several hours or exposed to light. Red phosphorus is a reddish-brown powder.
Application fields
Food is rich in phosphorus, so phosphorus deficiency is rare. Insufficient phosphorus intake or absorption can cause hypophosphatemia, causing abnormalities in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and rickets; due to disease or excess Intake of phosphorus will lead to hyperphosphatemia, which will reduce blood calcium and lead to osteoporosis.
The difference between organic phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus
Organophosphorus refers to organic compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds. Organophosphorus chemistry is the branch of organic chemistry that studies the properties and reactions of organophosphorus compounds. Phosphorus is in the same family as nitrogen and has a similar valence electron shell structure, so the properties of organic phosphorus compounds are somewhat similar to those of organic nitrogen-containing compounds. But in addition to 3s and 3p orbitals, phosphorus can also be used chemically to use 3d orbitals to form quencher bonds. Therefore, there are also many special and high-priced organophosphorus compounds, none of which have corresponding nitrogen compounds. Phosphorus is also less electronegative than nitrogen and less alkaline, so there are many differences in the properties of the compounds formed. For example, adenosine triphosphate, which is found in all living things, is ATP, which is an organic phosphorus.
Inorganic phosphorus is phosphorus that exists in the form of inorganic substances, such as phosphoric acid. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate refers to the general name for phosphorus-containing substances in soil, plants and fertilizers that are not combined with carbon. Such as apatite, first or second generation calcium phosphate, magnesium salt, pink phosphorite, etc. Inorganic phosphorus is widely used in the manufacture of matches, fireworks, firecracker flares, certain synthetic dyes, artificial phosphate fertilizers, pesticides, rodenticides and medical drugs.
