Phosphorus Facts - Element Characteristics Properties

Phosphorus is a reactive nonmetal with element symbol P and atomic number 15. It is one of the essential elements in the human body and is widely encountered in products such as fertilizers, pesticides, and detergents. Learn more about this important element. Phosphorus  Basic Facts Atomic Number: 15 Symbol: P Atomic Weight: 30.973762 Discovery: Hennig Brand, 1669 (Germany) Electron Configuration: [Ne] 3s2 3p3 Word Origin: Greek: phosphoros: light-bearing, also, the ancient name given the planet Venus before sunrise. Properties: The melting point of phosphorus (white) is 44.1 °C, boiling point (white) is 280 °C, specific gravity (white) is 1.82, (red) 2.20, (black) 2.25-2.69, with a valence of 3 or 5. There are four allotropic forms of phosphorus: two forms of white (or yellow), red, and black (or violet). White phosphorus exhibits a and b modifications, with a transition temperature between the two forms at -3.8 °C. Ordinary phosphorus is a waxy white solid. It is colorless and transparent in its pure form. Phosphorus is insoluble in water, but soluble in carbon disulfide. Phosphorus burns spontaneously in air to its pentoxide. It is highly poisonous, with a lethal dose of ~50 mg. White phosphorus should be stored under water and handled with forceps. It causes severe burns when in contact with skin. White phosphorus is converted to red phosphorus when exposed to sunlight or heated in its own vapor to 250 °C. Unlike white phosphorus, red phosphorus does not glow or burn in air, although it still requires careful handling. Uses: Red phosphorus, which is relatively stable, is used to make safety matches, tracer bullets, incendiary devices, pesticides, pyrotechnic devices, and many other products. There is a high demand for phosphates for use as fertilizers. Phosphates are also used to make certain glasses (e.g., for sodium lamps). Trisodium phosphate is used as a cleaner, water softener, and scale/corrosion inhibitor. Bone ash (calcium phosphate) is used to make chinaware and to make monocalcium phosphate for baking powder. Phosphorus is used to make steels and phosphor bronze and is added to other alloys. There are many uses for organic phosphorus compounds. Biological Activity: Phosphorus is an essential element in plant and animal cytoplasm. In humans, it is essential for proper skeletal and nervous system formation and function. Phosphate deficiency is called hypophosphatemia. It is characterized by low soluble phosphate levels in serum. Symptoms include disruption of muscle and blood function due to insufficient ATP. An excess of phosphorus, in contrast, leads to organ and soft tissue calcification. One symptom is diarrhea. The estimated average requirement for dietary phosphorus for adults age 19 and older is 580 mg/day. Good dietary sources of phosphorus include meat, milk, and soy beans. Element Classification: Non-Metal Phosphorus Physical Data Isotopes: Phosphorus has 22 known isotopes. P-31 is the only stable isotope. Density (g/cc): 1.82 (white phosphorus) Melting Point (K): 317.3 Boiling Point (K): 553 Appearance: white phosphorus is a waxy, phosphorescent solid Atomic Radius (pm): 128 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 17.0 Covalent Radius (pm): 106 Ionic Radius: 35 (5e) 212 (-3e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.757 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 2.51 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 49.8 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.19 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 1011.2 Oxidation States: 5, 3, -3 Lattice Structure: Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 7.170 CAS Registry Number: 7723-14-0 The glow of phosphorus in air is chemiluminescence and not phosphorescence. cloverphoto / Getty Images Phosphorus Trivia: Hennig Brand isolated phosphorus from urine. He kept his process a secret, choosing instead to sell the process to other alchemists. His process became more widely known when it was sold to the French Academy of Sciences.Brands technique was replaced by Carl Wilhelm Scheeles method of extracting phosphorus from bones.The oxidation of white phosphorus in air produces a green glow. Although the term phosphorescence refers to the elements glow, the true process is oxidation. The glow of phosphorus is a form of chemiluminescence.Phosphorus is the sixth most common element in the human body.Phosphorus is the seventh most common element in the Earths crust.Phosphorus is the eighteenth most common element in seawater.An early form of matches used white phosphorus in the match head. This practice gave rise to a painful and debilitating deformation of the jawbone known as phossy jaw to workers when over-exposed to white phosphorus. Sources Egon Wiberg; Nils Wiberg; Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001). Inorganic chemistry. Academic Press. pp. 683–684, 689. ISBN 978-0-12-352651-9.Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Ed.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.Hammond, C. R. (2000). The Elements. in Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (81st ed.). CRC press. ISBN 0-8493-0481-4.Vanzee, Richard J.; Khan, Ahsan U. (1976). The phosphorescence of phosphorus. The Journal of Physical Chemistry. 80 (20): 2240. doi:10.1021/j100561a021Weast, Robert (1984). CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. pp. E110. ISBN 0-8493-0464-4.

Lao-tzu and Current Government Essay - 806 Words

Tao-te Ching (in English pronounced â€Å"dow deh jing†) is believed to be written by Lao-tzu (6th century B.C). However, it is not for certain that he wrote the book. Lao-tzu is translated as â€Å"Old Master†. He was born in the state of Ch’u in China. It’s been said that he worked in the court of the Chou dynasty. The day that he was leaving the court to start his own life, the keeper of the gate urged him to write his thoughts as a book. Lao-tzu’s work mostly illustrates Taoism –a religion founded by Chang Tao-ling A.D. 150. His main purpose in this piece is practicing peace, simplicity, naturalness, and humility. Lao-tzu believes that people are overloaded with temporal objects in this world. He recommends his readers to let go of everything†¦show more content†¦For instance, he says â€Å"If you want to be a great leader, you must learn how to follow.† (Lao-tzu 29). Instead, he focuses on introducing Tao- the path to liv e or the way to enlightenment. However, Tao cannot be translated in one meaning. It has different interpretations which depend on the use of the term. As he refers in his book, Tao is the ideal path to live our life and â€Å"Master† is the one that governs people without being felt existed. Lao-tzu pointed out that â€Å"[t]he Master leads by emptying people’s minds and filling their cores, by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve.† (3) By saying this, he meant that people’s desires can negligent them from the real world and that is how the â€Å"Master† leads; by eliminating desires that make people steal and compete for power. On the other hand, Lao-tzu admits that being the best leader, partly depends on how people feel about him/her. As he said in his book, â€Å"Next best is a leader who is loved. Next one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised.† (Lao-tzu 17) There are many examples of how successful leaders ca n be when they are being loved by their people. It is a natural act that affects them in being let to stay in power or not. Similarly, governments at the moment face this fact too and as we see throughout the world, governments are being overthrown because of their people’s distaste and hate. That isShow MoreRelatedA Prince By Lao Tzu1754 Words   |  8 Pagesallow everything to harmonize with each other. These ideas come from the writer Lao-tzu in the piece called â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching.† Lao-tzu presents many idealist ways in his writing. The main focus is on the idea that people are able to govern themselves and partake in the actions they desire without restraint. As he wisely states, â€Å"Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place (206, Lao-tzu).† This advice is not, however, agreed upon by all humans. Machiavelli, the authorRead More The Ideal State of Today Essay1789 Words   |  8 Pagescreation of the first governmen t. 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Conformity by Rebellion free essay sample

The American way of life has destroyed our individuality while pretending to cater to it, and the natural interdependence Of society has been compromised by the shrieks Of mass media and the cubicle farms they call workplaces. We are all gearing up for some heavy sit, all around the world. The yuppies are putting together their silly stock option plans, the Pakistanis are aching for jihad against India, the major labels are trying harder than ever to saturate our culture with Limp Backbit bullwhip and kill Anapest while theyre at it.To me, it fits together like a puzzle. Its all related. This is more than a complaint about social differences. Its about human nature. Stick around; I think I can prove this. The hippie and freak hordes would have us believe than they are the sole bastions of non- conformity and acceptance left in America. They are not. I really dislike stories like Hans Christian Andersens The Ugly Duckling. Not all ugly ducklings turn into swans. Some of us turn into ugly ducks. We need to learn to accept it, and to find that being an ugly duck isnt really necessarily all that bad, cause going with the flock isnt always the best or most satisfying way to go, even if it does seem like the easiest I was never one who fit in with my peers. From the day I began school at the age of five, it was obvious that I was somehow different from the rest of them. Since I was hyperactive, kind of shy, and too intellectual to be popular, rarely had many friends, and at times found myself a subject of ridicule, mocking, and outright abuse.My first ploy, which lasted for a number of years, was to attempt to conform. This was very much a failure. Its basically impossible for a square peg to fit into a redefined and uniformly drilled round hole. So try as I might to bang myself into the acceptable state of existence, I couldnt, and it was apparent to all the nice, shiny cute little round pegs that I was a wannabes. So I went the opposite direction. At around the age of eleven, became a rebel. I deliberately swam upstream; intentionally bucking every convention I could think of. Ore odd jewelry, which got me quite a reputation. I got my ears pierced in strange ways in an era where dual piercing were unusual; I wore Odd clothes, like jeans with holes in them (when they came into fashion a few ears later I stopped wearing them). I went out of my way to annoy, shock, and irritate the primarily working class and middle class people around me. Yes, I was still an outcast. Yes, was still drawing a lot of negative comments and being picked on, but felt as if I were in control (at least more in control) because I was now doing something to draw criticism.I got to the point where sort of took pride in being able to rile the mundane by having the amazing audacity to be different. Then, one day, I realized, In fact, that wasnt all that revolutionary. I was following a well-established pattern and ad a lot in common with all the other rebels. Was different, just like them. And truth be told, I wasnt all that radical. I mean I had purple hair, but not a Mohawk, facial piercing or anything really shocking. I was just a rebellious kid looking for trouble. I had conformed.By trying to be different by being provocative and shocking, I had become just like all the others. I had become just another sheep in the flock. I chose to reflect on the poem by Laurence Dunbar, We Wear The Mask. The poem shows how people wear a facade from the world. We all wear masks in front of others whether it is reposeful or naturally. It shows how people hide the way they really feel. It seems so many people in this world wear masks. So many are afraid to show others what theyre really like. Its amazing what problems can come from it; Problems that may not have existed if the masks werent there.Everyone wishes to feel accepted in life, and the character in Dunbar poem is no exception. We wish to fit in with our peers, so we wear the mask that grins and lies. (Dunbar, ). We will hide what we really feel so that we may feel accepted. On the other hand, no one likes being humiliated. It is a Orrville experience and most people would do anything to avoid it. Most would wear a mask while smiling with torn and bleeding hearts. (Dunbar, So we hide our true feelings to avoid humiliation. So, one uses a mask to hide behind.Whether it is from humiliation or non-acceptance, people will use masks to hide their true emotions, and pretend that everything okay. Everyone has his or her own masks to wear. Some people wear their masks by choice, other times it is just horrible fate that people end up with what they have. NOTHING is perfect. But, at the same time, perfection lies in the imperfect world. I know that sounds like a contradictory thing to say But perfection is something to stumble upon. Our own hands cannot create it; its something that the fates can only control.Embrace chaos before it bites you in the ass. Thats my thought for the day. The subject of W. H. Deadens Unknown Citizen not only has to do with one particular mans life, but could apply to the life of just about anyone. The theme of the poem is that the man being discussed in this section is an all round normal guy. Many of his attributes resemble the typical person. W. H. Aden enriches this poem not only by having an implicit theme but also through the use of such elements of poetry such as, rhyme, speaker, setting, and situation.A hero system is protocols by which certain people dependent on the rewards they receive and what they have accomplished receive notoriety and publicity. The hero system in our country does not benefit the people of this nation in any fashion. All Americas hero system does is provide the general public with entertainment. Addends Unknown Citizen typifies the idea of a man left to rot in a society that he has given his livelihood to. In his poem this individual .NET through life working for the common good of a community, which he may not have completely agreed with.He worked for it anyway. He worked for his family. He paid his union dues as a symbol of trust in the good that the many could do, yet he did not even receive a tombstone with his name on it upon his death. Aden gives the reader a clear image of how seemingly insignificant this hard working individual was to society. Not only does a hero system exist in America today, but also, just as in Addends poem, many hard working Americans go ungratified for their hard work and dedication. There are many reasons that Aden may have written a poem about such a closed minded society.It would seem that Addends Unknown Citizen might be condemning himself to a life of hard work and frustration without gratification. The other side of the spectrum reveals an even more socialistic idea. How important is it that people always must be recognized for the work they do. Why is it that people cant just do good things for their community and sit back to enjoy them rather than getting all fussy over whether or not they are going to get anything for it. Is the self- satisfaction not enough?It seems as though it was for Addends Unknown Citizen, but it seems to me that there are people out there that give of themselves for the good of the community and the country that do deserve recognition for their efforts. Police officers, firefighters, and teachers just start a very long list of under paid and under-appreciated job titles in America today. That does not even include that thousands of Americans that do social or volunteer community work during their own time to help better the bond that tie American communities together.So in the end, this man died, he informed by everyday standards, but these standards were made by conformity. The union itself is some form of rebellion. By being apart of that group, he conformed to the rebels standards. A cultural movement is a cultural movement; be it hippie, skater punk, rave trash or otherwise. Nobody wants the whole world to live in peace as one big happy family. Its contrary to instinct. We all want to be the bodhisattva in the flowing robes who dictates the gospel to the rest of the world. And thats not the way things work. This world has winners and losers, geeks and popular kids.Junior high pupates itself until you are dead. So whats a rebel to do? Dont know. Try reading. Jack Kerouac is not still a best selling author because of his cool Gap khakis. A nation of people din t follow Lenin into almost 80 years of collectivist silliness because of his natty goatee and adorable accent. Or try remembering these simple rules: 1. ) Rebellion is free. 2. ) Rebellion does not come in six different colors. 3. ) Rebellion does not have a soundtrack and a movie deal in the works. 4. ) Rebellion is not found in a piercing store, tattoo parlor, drug store, hash pipe or a Question Titration movie.