15
P
30.9738
Phosphorus
Nonmetal
Group 15
Period 3
Block p
Phosphorus is a chemical element of the periodic table with chemical symbol P and atomic number 15 with an atomic weight of 30.9738 u and is classed as nonmetal and is part of group 15 (nitrogen group). Phosphorus is solid at room temperature.
Phosphorus in the periodic table
| Symbol | P |
| Atomic number | 15 |
| Group | 15 (Nitrogen group) |
| Period | 3 |
| Block | p |
| Classification | Nonmetal |
| Appearance | Colourless, waxy white, yellow, scarlet, red, violet, black |
| Color | Colorless |
| Number of protons | 15 p+ |
| Number of neutrons | 16 n0 |
| Number of electrons | 15 e- |
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPhosphorus is a chemical element with symbol P and atomic number 15. As an element, phosphorus exists in two major forms—white phosphorus and red phosphorus—but due to its high reactivity, phosphorus is never found as a free element on Earth. Instead phosphorus-containing minerals are almost always present in their maximally oxidised state, as inorganic phosphate rocks.
Physical properties
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Density | 1.823 g/cm3 |
| Atomic weight | 30.9738 u |
Thermal properties
| Melting point | - |
| Boiling point | - |
| Heat of vaporization | 12.4 kJ/mol |
Atomic properties
| Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) | 2.19 |
| Electron affinity | 72.037 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation states | −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5 (a mildly acidic oxide) |
| Ionization energies |
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Electron configuration for phosphorus
Electron configuration Shorthand configuration | [Ne] 3s2 3p3 | ||||||||||||||
| Full configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 | ||||||||||||||
Electron configuration chart |
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| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Valence electrons | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Valency electrons | 3,5 | ||||||||||||||
| Bohr model | Figure: Shell diagram of Phosphorus (P) atom. | ||||||||||||||
Orbital Diagram |
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The history of Phosphorus
| Discovery and first isolation | Hennig Brand (1669) |
| Recognised as an element by | Antoine Lavoisier (1777) |
Discovery of phosphorus The discovery of phosphorus, the first element to be discovered that was not known since ancient times, is credited to the German alchemist Hennig Brand in 1669, although others might have discovered phosphorus around the same time. Brand experimented with urine, which contains considerable quantities of dissolved phosphates from normal metabolism. Working in Hamburg, Brand attempted to create the fabled philosopher's stone through the distillation of some salts by evaporating urine, and in the process produced a white material that glowed in the dark and burned brilliantly. It was named phosphorus mirabilis ("miraculous bearer of light"). Phosphorus was the 13th element to be discovered. Because of its tendency to spontaneously combust when left alone in air, it is sometimes referred to as "the Devil's element". | |
| Original word | phosphoros |
| Language of origin | Greek |
| Name source | Properties |
| Meaning | “Bringer of light” |
Naming The name is derived from the Greek word phosphoros, meaning bringer of light because it has the property of glowing in the dark. Phosphorus was the ancient name for the planet Venus. | |