P - Phosphorous

Phosphorous

 Phosphorous 
P
Atomic Number: 15
Atomic Weight: 30.97376
Element Type: Non-Metal
Crystal Structure: Monoclinic
Melting Point: 44.15°C = 111.47°F = 317.3 K
Boiling Point: 280.5°C = 536.9°F = 553.65 K
Critical Temp: 721.0°C = 1329.8°F = 994.15 K
Atomic Radius: 1.23 Å (Å = Angstrom = 10-10 m)
Covalent Radius: 1.06 Å
Electronegativity: 2.19

History

(Gr. phosphoros, light bearing; ancient name for the planet Venus when appearing beforesunrise) Brand discovered phosphorus in 1669 by preparing it from urine.


Sources

Never found free in nature, it is widely distributed in combination with minerals.Phosphate rock, which contains the mineral apatite, an impure tri-calcium phosphate, is animportant source of the element. Large deposits are found in Russia, in Morocco, and inFlorida, Tennessee, Utah, Idaho, and elsewhere.