Phosphorus (from Latin Phosphorus) P

Apatite (occurrence: Canada, Germany, Mexico, in Poland near Bielsko-Biała and Żywiec), phosphophyllite (Bolivia, United States, Germany), monazite (Russia, Brazil, India, United States, in Poland near Szklarska Poręba), turquoise (Egypt, Iran, China, in Poland, Lower Silesia).

Due to its high reactivity, the non-metal does not occur in nature in molecular form. It comes in four allotropic varieties - white, red, purple and black phosphorus. Phosphorus is a key component of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, which is important for the storage and transmission of genetic information in organisms.

H3PO4, C10H16N5O13P3 (ATP), P4O10, Mg3(PO4)2

White phosphorus is obtained in the form of vapor by heating calcium phosphate (V) with silica and coke at a temperature of 1300-1450°C, without access to air. In this reaction, phosphorus is produced in the form of vapor, which condenses. This allotrope is the least stable. Red phosphorus can be obtained by heating white phosphorus with iodine as a catalyst at a temperature of about 176°C in the absence of air.

Phosphorus is a key ingredient in artificial fertilizers such as superphosphates, which are used in agriculture to improve plant growth and yields. Phosphorus compounds are used in the pharmaceutical industry, both as ingredients of medicines and as auxiliary substances in the production of tablets. It is used in the production of fluorescent materials and phosphors. Phosphorus compounds such as disodium phosphate are used as food additives in the food industry as pH regulators and stabilizers.

The largest producer of phosphorus is China, but the United States and Russia are also on the podium. Other important producers are: Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt.

Red phosphorus is commonly used to produce matchsticks. The stick on the side of the matchbox contains: red phosphorus, a binder and ground glass. Phosphorus is essential for the healthy development and function of bones and teeth in humans and animals and is a mineral present in the skeleton. Excess phosphorus in natural waters may lead to eutrophication, i.e. excessive production of algae and water blooms. Excessive blooms can threaten aquatic ecosystems and water quality. Therefore, controlling phosphorus emissions from point sources and non-point sources is important to protect the aquatic environment