Phosphorus. By Rowena Baulch

Basic information. Electronic configuration: 2, 8, 5 Atomic number:15 Number of protons:15 Number of neutrons:16 Number of electrons15 Number of shells:3 Symbol: P Group: 15 Family: It is in the non-metals group or the nitrogen group.

More info. Density with units:1.82g/cm Melting point with units: 44.1 degrees Celsius State of matter at room temperature:Solid Metal, non-metal, metalloid: non-metal Hardness: 5-medium hard Boiling point: 280 degrees Celsius Any other physical properties? White phosphorus gives off a faint glow when exposed too oxygen. Different colors such as, white, violet, black and red.

What it looks like? Other Facts? White phosphorus is usually a yellow-white waxy solid, which glows in the dark when exposed oxygen, and will burn at low temperatures. It is quite reactive. If you heat it with no O2 you will get a red phosphorus, which doesn't glow or burn as easily. If you put more intense heat on it with it sealed in a tube it will sublime and recondense as crystals of violet phosphorus, shiny and metallic looking. If you heat it with a really intense heat the phosphorus will turn into black phosphorus which looks a bit like flakes of graphite. Other Facts? Discovered by a German, Henning brand in 1669 when attempting to create the philosophers stone from urine and in the process produced a white material that glowed in the dark, which we now know is called phosphorous. Obtained from phosphate rock. Widely used in explosives, friction matches, fireworks, pesticides, toothpaste and detergents.

Bibliography: http://www.corrosionsource.com/handbook/periodic/15.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus http://www.facts-about.org.uk/science-element-phosphorus.htm