1669: Phosphorus - The book of science

Phosphorus
Atomic number 15
Stuff that glows
Commentary

Phosphorus

Could be Hennig Brand thought
kidney stones were sympathetic with
the philosopher’s stone
that he tried to distill gold from urine . . .
or could be the golden color of urine deceived him.
At any rate, after letting it rot,
evaporating it into a paste, heating the paste,
discarding the salts (which included
most of the phosphorus), mixing and reheating the rest,
and cooling the vapors in water,
he produced a white waxy material that glowed in the dark,
actually ammonium sodium hydrogen phosphate.

Atomic number 15

Kept a secret
much in demand
phosphorus
was a sensation.
Brand sold the process
to a guy in Dresden.
Everyone wanted to know
how to make it.
Given hints
Robert Boyle
figured it out
and improved the process.
*
Today it makes
matches
fertilizers
explosives
baking powder
pesticides
plasticizer
flame retardants
detergents
water softener
and toothpaste.
*
Needed by
all living creatures,
having a role in our
genetic machinery
and in the transport
of energy.

Stuff that glows

Brand named it
phosphorus mirabilis
“miraculous bearer of light.”
Reacting with oxygen,
phosphorus
emits light.
*
Radioluminescent phosphor
excited by tritium
on watch hands.
*
Happiness in your eyes
but not
that spooky green glow.
*
Moons, stars, nebulae.

Lack of phosphorus in the diet can result in hypophosphatemia, with neurological symptoms and so forth, but too much phosphorus isn’t good either. Vertebrates with teeth should appreciate that phosphorus is essential for growing bones and teeth enamel. Maybe that’s why my sweetheart’s teeth are so bright!