Isaac Romero

Kaitlin Douglas

10th grade Chemistry

9/28/17

How Has Phosphorus Impacted History

As a part of C.H.N.O.P.S, phosphorus is essential for life. It is used in everything from

fireworks to our very own DNA. As number 15 on the periodic table it is an extremely reactive

element, having 23 isotopes. Discovered in 1669 by Hennig Hamburg, in Hamburg, Germany,

extracting it from urine. (Urine naturally has dissolved phosphates.) He called the element 'cold

fire' because it glows in the dark. It is the most abundant pnictogen (a member of the nitrogen

group of elements) in the Earths crust. It is highly reactive so it used in things that a little flare

such as: flares, fireworks and matches. However, some unexpected things phosphorus is used in

include: windows, baking soda and fertilizer.

This is the Phosphorus cycle: A plant will absorb phosphorus in the soil near by. The

Plant will either get eaten or decompose naturally. If eaten by an animal the waste or body of the

animal will then decompose into the ground where bacteria will use enzymes to turn the

decomposing matter in phosphorus thus repeating the cycle. Human impact this cycle by the use

of fertilizer and other agricultural things. Fertilizers and pig waste are high in phosphorus, which

makes its way into the soil.

Phosphorus should not be used to excess as it can accelerate the natural aging of lakes

and streams. Phosphorus increases the biological of surface waters by accelerating the aging of

bodies of water caused by nutrient enrichment (eutrophication). Eutrophication can be

accelerated increasing the amounts of nutrients added to the body. All these added nutrients

allow for more and more plants to grow taking the mass of the body before it can be replenished.

Phosphorus makes up one percent of a persons body weight as the second most abundant

mineral in the body it is present in every cell. Its main purpose in the body is in the formation of

bones and teeth. It helps the body use carbohydrates and fats. It also helps make proteins for the

maintenance of cells and tissues. Some other things phosphorus helps with in the body include:

kidney function, muscle contractions, normal heartbeat and nerve signaling. Phosphorus

insufficiency (hypophosphatemia) can lead to weaker bones and joint/muscle pain. Excess

phosphorus has the same symptoms as hypophosphatemia plus digestive problems such as:

constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Without Phosphorus there would be no life and we would never exist.