What is phosphorus and what does it do in the body? Owing to its pyrophoricity, white phosphorus is used as an additive in napalm. In the soil, the organic matter (e.g., plants and fungi) absorb the phosphorus to be used for various biological processes. Radiopharmaceuticals are agents used to diagnose certain medical problems or treat certain diseases. Phosphorus is required for the formation of cell walls and is an integral part of nucleic acids in DNA, taking part in its structure. It is a radioactive form of sodium phosphate. ‘Phosphorus’ is our great tonic for the heart (venous heart) and lungs. Today, phosphorus is an important part of many of the products that are indispensable to modern living and good health. It is a mineral acid that contains three atoms of hydrogen, one atom of phosphorus, and four atoms of oxygen. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Phosphorus is also essential for maintaining acid-base balance in the body. When you eat foods that have phosphorus in them, most of the phosphorus goes into your blood. Acute (short-term) oral exposure to high levels of white phosphorus in Phosphorus definition, a solid, nonmetallic element existing in at least three allotropic forms, one that is yellow, poisonous, flammable, and luminous in the dark, one that is red, less poisonous, and less flammable, and another that is black, insoluble in most solvents, and the least flammable. It is used in making incendiary (fire causing) bombs, tracer bullets and for producing smoke screen. Many farmers replenish phosphorus through the use of phosphate fertilisers. Phosphorus is used for the preparation of phosphorous compounds like P 2 O 5, PCl 3, PCl 5 and phosphoric acid. As calcium phosphate it is a major component of bones. The striking surface of a matchbox is made up of red phosphorus and powdered glass. Owing to its pyrophoricity, white phosphorus is used as an additive in napalm. Phosphorus is a vital component of ATP, the "energy unit" of plants. Human phosphorus use has created problems for wildlife and people, alike. Phosphorus intoxication from excessive consumption in food is not known. Phosphorus 7723-14-0 Hazard Summary White phosphorus is used in the manufacture of munitions, pyrotechnics, explosives, smoke bombs, in artificial fertilizers, and rodenticides. The painter, Joseph Wright, left out some of the details, as recorded in the 1796 paper "Phosphoros Elementals" and re-described in the 2006 textbook "Chemistry" by Kenneth Whitten and colleagues. Red phosphorus is nontoxic and is used as an ignition source for matches. Red phosphorus is made by heating white phosphorus under controlled conditions. 2. There's even a 1795 painting devoted to phosphorus' discovery, titled "The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone, Discovers Phosphorus, and prays for the successful Conclusion of his operation, as was the custom of the Ancient Chymical Astrologers." Phosphates were included in the main diet at the rate of 0.2% phosphorus. Phosphorus is found in water, solids (detritus), and in the bodies of biological organisms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it smells like matches or garlic. Thus, the chemical formula of phosphoric acid is H 3 PO 4. The most common forms are white phosphorus, made up of phosphorus atoms arranged like a tetrahedron (a four-sided pyramid), and red phosphorus, a solid but non-crystalline form of the element. Example of phosphorescence. Phosphorus Cycle Steps. As phosphate, a charged molecule, it combines with sugar to form the backbone of DNA. In appropriate quantities, phosphorus can be used by vegetation and soil microbes for normal growth. Human phosphorus use has created problems for wildlife and people, alike. There, together with calcium, phosphorus provides structure and strength. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants. Such blooms, which occur in other drinking-water lakes across the country as well, are often caused or exacerbated by phosphorus from fertilizers and livestock waste flowing into waterways. Fertilizer labels list these chemicals as three numbers, such as 10-15-10. The growth rate of piglets and the efficiency of feed use for a different source of phosphorus in the diet. Phosphorus is commonly used for: Anxiety and Fear: Phosphorus works quite well in curing anxiety and fear in and of itself. The chemical element is called Phosphorus in English. This mixture can be used to produce a spark that can light a matchstick. Phosphorus also helps the body make ATP, a molecule the body uses to store energy. Phosphorus is essential to a plants growth, but what does it mean if you have high phosphorus in your soil, or a phosphorus deficiency? Phosphorus is an important element of nutrition of animals In the full nutrition of animals, an important role is performed by phosphorus. White phosphorus is waxy and gives off a slight glow in air, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry. Phosphorus plays key roles in biochemical synthesis, storage and use of energy in cells through the formation of high-energy phosphate bonds; it is intimately linked to the regulation of calcium levels, carbohydrate, lipid and acid-base metabolism. Sodium tripolyphosphate is used in laundry detergents in some parts of the world. Content Guidelines Thus, phosphorus is essential … 3. At least 23 isotopes of the element are known. Phosphorus can be used as a warning signal for heart disease. Phosphorus is present naturally in food, water and even human bodies. Phosphorus is an essential mineral element. PreserveArticles.com: Preserving Your Articles for Eternity, Factor of the Diet favoring Absorption of calcium. Uses of Phosphorus. It is a major component of skeletal tissue, DNA and RNA, ATP (the major energy producer in the body), and phospholipids. Other factors, such as water temperature, can influence the timing and size of toxic algae blooms, so Obenour and his colleagues wanted to isolate the effects of fertilizer runoff. Phosphorus Cycle Definition. Phosphorus is a vital plant nutrient and its main use – via phosphate compounds – is in the production of fertilizers. 260° C. Thus the numerical value of Q diminishes by 2,200 calories between 260° and 571° C., and the temperature coefficient a in the equation Visit our corporate site. Obenour and his colleagues have studied the algae blooms of Lake Erie, which is where Toledo gets its drinking water. Your body needs phosphorus for many functions, such as filtering waste and repairing your tissues. Some is used as an alloying agent, some is used to kill rodents, and the rest is employed in chemical synthesis. Phosphorus is the second most plentiful mineral in your body. In chemical industry: Phosphorus Red phosphorus, comparatively harmless, is used in matches. Nearly all the biochemical reactions taking place in the body involve phosphorus, including regulation of proteins and energy production through the process known as phosphorylation; hormone signaling, cell growth and repair; heart contraction; nerve and muscle … About 85 percent of the phosphorus in the body is in bones. It can also be quite useful for other symptoms that may be associated with either anxiety or fear such as insomnia, exhaustion, or even nervous tension. Commonly used brand name(s) In the U.S. Phosphocol P-32; Uses for chromic phosphate p 32. The term is used both in inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Phosphorus is a vital component of ATP, the "energy unit" of plants. K-Phos Neutral is a combination medicine used to make the urine more acid to help prevent kidney stones. color). The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth. In other words, less phosphorus is necessary to create ever-larger blooms — a fact that could influence regulations on agriculture upstream from the lake. It plays an important role in how the body uses carbohydrates and fats. Many flares that are used as emergency signals use this allotrope of phosphorus to help in the ignition process. The primary use of phosphorus is for fertilizer production. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. It plays a critical role in cell development and is a key component of molecules that store energy, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), DNA and lipids (fats and oils). DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. The majority of phosphorus in the body is found in the bones. Phosphorus is a chemical element that exists in combination with other minerals in nature, principally as phosphate salts. The term is used both in inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Ferrophosphorus, a combination of phosphorus with iron, is used as an ingredient in high-strength low-alloy steel. Other common names include WP and the slang term "Willie Pete" or "Willie Peter" derived from William Peter, the World War II phonetic alphabet for … There was a problem. What is the body’s normal phosphorus level? Phosphorus is used in the production of steel. In addition, the many organic compounds of phosphorus have varied uses, including those as additives for gasoline and lubricating oil, as… Even like there are bio carbon and nitrogen cycles, there is also a phosphorus cycle. A phosphor is a chemical compound that emits light when it is exposed to light of a different wavelength (i.e. Radioactive phosphorus is known as P-32. Red phosphorus is used in safety matches, fireworks, smoke bombs and pesticides. It is a major component of skeletal tissue, DNA and RNA, ATP (the major energy producer in the body), and phospholipids. ATP forms during photosynthesis, has phosphorus in its structure, and processes from the beginning of seedling growth through to the formation of grain and maturity. Phosphoric acid, in turn, is used in the manufacture phosphatic fertilizers such as triple superphate. The algae blooms would likely be a quarter or less the size of the peak blooms seen in Lake Erie in 2011 without human influence, Obenour said. It is also needed for the body to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. In August 2014, the city of Toledo, Ohio, had to warn citizens against using the city's water due to a toxic algae bloom. Before publishing your Article on this site, please read the following pages: 1. White phosphorus is extremely toxic to humans, while other forms of phosphorus are much less toxic. White phosphorus is highly reactive and bursts into flames when exposed to warm air hence its name which means “light bearer” in Greek. Phosphorus also helps you turn fat, carbs, and protein into energy. Breathing in phosphorus vapour led to the industrial disease phossy jaw, which slowly ate away the jaw bone. In August 2014, the city of Toledo, Ohio, had to warn citizens against using the city's water due to a toxic algae bloom. Phosphorus is a naturally occurring substance that is important in every cell in the body. New York, Strike-anywhere matches can ignite on any surface because they contain a small amount of white phosphorus built in to the match head. In certain combinations, though, red phosphorus is still very dangerous. White phosphorous is toxic and is mostly used in bombs for warfare. Phosphates are ingredients of some detergents. Phosphorus also helps your nerves and muscles do their jobs. Phosphorus is also used in steel manufacture and in the production of phosphor bronze. It is also needed for the body to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. PreserveArticles.com is a free service that lets you to preserve your original articles for eternity. Healthy kidneys remove extra phosphorus from the blood. (Image credit: Greg Robson/Creative Commons, Jefferson National Linear Accelerator Laboratory, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Michigan State University's Science Theater, California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Most accurate map of our galaxy pinpoints 1.8 billion cosmic objects, Voyager mission finds a new type of electron burst at the edge of our solar system, Sprawling 8-mile-long 'canvas' of ice age beasts discovered hidden in Amazon rainforest, Lost islands beneath the North Sea survived a mega-tsunami 8,000 years ago, Nazi 'Enigma' machine found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, How a flu virus shut down the US economy in 1872 — by infecting horses, Mysterious black spot in polar explorer's diary offers gruesome clue to his fate, Mystery illness sickens more than 300 in India, Atomic number (number of protons in the nucleus): 15, Atomic symbol (on the Periodic Table of Elements): P, Atomic weight (average mass of the atom): 30.973762, Melting point: 111.57 degrees Fahrenheit (44.15 degrees Celsius), Number of isotopes (atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons): 22; 1 stable, Most common isotopes: Phosphorus-31 (100 percent natural abundance). 2. Phosphorus is an essential element for plant and animal growth, but too much of it can accelerate the natural aging of lakes and streams. Such blooms, which occur in other drinking-water lakes across the country as well, are often caused or exacerbated by phosphorus from fertilizers and livestock waste flowing into waterways. What is radioactive phosphorus? White phosphorus has also found a wide range of other uses. General fertilizers contain the chemicals nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are also called NPK. How is phosphorus used in the human body? If ordinary phosphoric acid is heated, water is removed and the orthophosphate ions combine to form a polyphosphate. Learn more. The first step in the process was to steep the urine for two weeks, until it putrefied and bred worms. Toxic exposures have been reported to occur from its industrial use or from suicidal ingestion of phosphorus-containing materials. Phosphorus also helps the body make ATP, a molecule the body uses to store energy. Chromic phosphate P 32 is used to treat cancer or related problems. The phosphorus cycle is the process by which phosphorus moves through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for animals and plants. Phosphorus is used in making phosphor bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin containing phosphorus. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Thus, phosphorus is essential for the general health and vigor of all plants. In the laboratory, two radioactive isotopes of phosphorus can be used as radioactive tracers. It is, therefore, added to fertilizers. Phosphorus is one of the main three nutrients most commonly found in fertilizers and is the P in the NPK balance that is listed on fertilizers. Phosphorus is usually considered the “limiting nutrient” in aquatic ecosystems, meaning that the available quantity of this nutrient controls the pace at which algae and aquatic plants are produced. All the articles you read in this site are contributed by users like you, with a single vision to liberate knowledge. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Earth.It has a concentration in the Earth's crust of about one gram per kilogram (compare copper at about 0.06 grams). 4. When exposed to enough heat (500 F or 260 C), it will ignite. There are about 26.5 ounces (750 grams) of phosphate in the average human body, mostly in the bones, according to the RSC. The body uses phosphorus to: form strong bones and teeth; maintain a normal pH balance; get oxygen to tissues; create energy Uses of Phosphorus. Owing to its pyrophoricity, white phosphorus is used as an additive in napalm. TOS The reason for the increased sensitivity remains somewhat mysterious, but invasive species could be one factor, Obenour said. Phosphorus has many functions in the human body. The function of phosphorus in plants is very important. The odor of combustion of this form has a characteristic garlic smell, and samples are commonly coated with white “(di)phosphorus pentoxide,” which consists of P 4 O 10 tetrahedra with oxygen inserted between the phosphorus atoms and at their vertices. 2. Phosphorus has many functions in the human body. Our mission is to liberate knowledge. Phosphorus occurs naturally at low levels in water, plants, and animals. The results, published in October 2014 in the journal Water Resources Research, showed a link: The more phosphorus early in the year, the larger the algae bloom in late summer. White phosphorus munitions are weapons which use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus.White phosphorus is used in smoke, illumination and incendiary munitions, and is commonly the burning element of tracer ammunition. (More information) 2. In many streams and lakes, "phosphorus is the nutrient that is the most scarce, and therefore it is often the most important nutrient," said Dan Obenour, a professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering at North Carolina State University. Inhalation or contact with the skin is toxic, causing burns that can quickly turn fatal. Phosphorus is used in the manufacture of safety matches (red phosphorus), pyrotechnics and incendiary shells. Phosphorus is a mineral found in the body. It explodes when combined with other compounds such as chlorine, sodium and ammonium nitrate, according to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which flags red phosphorus as one of the dangerous ingredients used in making methamphetamines. Despite its fiery properties, phosphorus is crucial to life. A single phosphorus compound can be used in a … This created a whole new industry of cheap lights - but at a terrible cost. Some other important uses of red phosphorus are listed below. Researchers and scientists are concerned especially by the high content of inorganic phosphorus (phosphates) found in the form of food additives largely used in the industry of food. Red phosphorus is a safer alternative and is considered non-toxic. It is one of the basic structural components of the body, it takes an active part in the metabolism of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, energy, minerals, vitamins, is a part of the most important metabolites. 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