Phosphorus Facts For Kids Explained In A Really Simple Way

Natural phosphorus is present in water and ocean sediments, but it is not found in the gaseous state, unlike other elements.

Common forms of phosphorus are white phosphorus, which is waxy and solid, or red phosphorus in the form of brownish-red powder or a black salt called black phosphorus. These salts are released from rocks due to weathering and dissolve in soil, which plants absorb.

Minerals are essential for a healthy body. Our body needs minerals for doing different jobs, including keeping our muscles, heart, brain, and bones working correctly. It's also vital for making hormones and enzymes.

Several minerals are important for health, like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and many others, including iron and sulfur. There are two kinds of minerals, trace minerals and macro minerals.

These two types of minerals are equally important, but trace minerals are only needed in small amounts compared to other significant minerals. Would you like to learn more about these vital minerals? Then continue reading!

If you enjoyed this article, why not learn more about potassium and facts about plutonium.

Fun Facts About Phosphorus

The low toxicity level of black phosphorus is one of the reasons we can utilize it as commercial phosphorus in optoelectronics, nanoelectronics, and biomedical applications. The word phosphorus is taken from the Greek word "Phosphoros,' meaning' bearer of light.'

Hennig Brandt, a German, discovered phosphorus by accident in 1669, and he initially called the element cold fire because it glowed in the dark. Phosphorus smells like garlic or matches.

Inhalation or contact with phosphorus compounds causes toxic side effects to the skin, causing severe burns that may be fatal. Phosphorus's primary function is in the formation of bones and teeth. It helps the body utilize fat and carbohydrates and produce a protein that is essential for the growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues and cells.

Phosphorus is also an essential element to build ATP, which stores energy in the human body. Moreover, it supports kidney function, regular heartbeat, nerve signaling, and muscle contractions.

Unusual Facts About Phosphorus

White phosphorus is usually stored underwater as it ignites in moist air at about 30 degrees centigrade. Most of the phosphorus on Earth's crust comes from phosphate rock that is mined all over the world.

More than 50 million tonnes of phosphorus are made every year, and it has multiple uses. Phosphorus is used to manufacture fertilizers, animal feeds, corrosion preventers, rust removers, and even in our dishwasher tablets.

There is about 19.75oz to 29.98oz (560g to 850 g) of phosphate in the human body, mainly in the bones. Phosphorus is used as a warning signal of heart diseases. Phosphorus is used in matchboxes.

Earlier Matches had white Phosphorus, whereas red Phosphorus is on the side of matchboxes nowadays. As a result of over-exposure to the element, the workforce in match factories often suffers from a painful deformation of the jawbone named 'phossy jaw.'

White phosphorus, which is very toxic, glows in the dark and can spontaneously combust in the air. Phosphorus has a dark side too. It is also called 'The Devil's element' as it glows and burns and is the spookiest member in the periodic table.

Harmful Facts About Phosphorus

Constant exposure to this element could affect kidneys and liver. White or Yellow Phosphorus is dangerous as there are hazards of explosion and fire due to its combustible nature and reactive property. 

White phosphorus is also found to be extremely toxic to the natural world. Inhalation of the element phosphorus causes irritation of the nose and throat, which leads to cough and wheezing.

High concentrations of phosphorus will cause increased growth of algae and aquatic plants, which in turn cause a decrease in the level of dissolved oxygen - a process called eutrophication. If there is a high level of phosphorus, it can lead to algae blooms which produce toxins that are very harmful to human and animal health.

Facts About Phosphorus As A Chemical

In the periodic table, phosphorus is the 15th element. Its atomic number is 15, and the atomic symbol is P. White phosphorus has an atomic weight of 30.973762 with a specific gravity of 1.82. One molecule of phosphorus has four phosphorus atoms.

Phosphorus is an abundant element on Earth's crust, which is found to be in a solid state at room temperature with boiling point 536 F (280 C) and melting point 111.4 F (44.1 C). Pure phosphorus has four allotropic forms, which are two forms of white phosphorus, red phosphorus, and black.

The same element has 21 isotopes with a mass number ranging from 24-46. In chemistry, the 'Phosphorus cycle' is explained as the movement of phosphorus in a cycle through water, rocks, soil and sediments, and organisms.

Only one is naturally occurring and stable (P-31), making the element monoisotopic.

This element is considered the critical component of molecules that store energy, such as ATP. Studies have shown that insufficient phosphorus in the soil results in decreased crop yield.

As most phosphorus is locked up in sediments and rock, it is unavailable to plants. Farmers replenish the phosphorus 'pool' by supplementing with fertilizer to replace phosphorus taken up by the plants.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Phosphorus facts for kids explained in a really simple way,' then why not take a look at three types of magnets or three magnetic metals.