PhosphorusBy: Pansy Haney

» Phosphorus was first discovered by Hennig Brandt in 1669. Brandt found phosphorus by heating concentrated urine with sand. Brandt collected the heated product under water which was a waxy substance.

What is Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is a chemical element that is part of the nitrogen family. Phosphorus can be identified on the periodic table of element by the symbol P.

Where do we find Phosphorus?

• Phosphorus is found in every living organism.

• Phosphorus is found in our Lakes, river and streams.

• Phosphorus is found in vegetable, fruits, and meats.

Phosphorus allotropic forms

• White/yellow Phosphorus

• Red Phosphorus

• Black Phosphorus

White Phosphorus

• Does not occur naturally• Soft, very reactive• Consists of P4 molecules• So unstable that it turns yellow• Reddens when hit by light• Glows in the dark making

Phosphorescence • Stored underwater to isolate from air

White Phosphorus Uses

• Production of phosphoric acid and other chemicals

• Fertilizers

• Additives in foods and drinks

• Cleaning compounds

White Phosphorus Hazards

• A poison that can be absorb through skin contact, ingestion, or breathing.

• Removes oxygen from the air

• Highly explosive if mixed with other chemicals

Red Phosphorus

• Red phosphorus formed by exposing white phosphorus to sunlight or heating to 275°c

• Not has explosive as white

• Used to make matches, tracer bullets, pesticides, fire bombs, and fire works

• Black phosphorus formed by heating white phosphorus 225°c

Black Phosphorus

• Black phosphorus formed by heating white phosphorus, but a mercury catalyst and a seed crystal of black phosphorus is needed.

• Least reactive form of Phosphorus• Glows in the dark• Since it’s discovery phosphorescence has been

used to describe substances that glow in the dark without burning

• No significant commercial uses

Phosphorus Cycle

• Phosphorus goes through a cycle when it enter our river and lakes.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Definition

Concentrated Feeding Operations is where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. Animals kept in a confined space for 45 days or more and not allowed to graze for food. It is illegal to spread manure of a CAFO animal where it moves off the land and into waters of the state. CAFO is loaded with plant nutrient nitrogen and phosphorus.

CAFO Impact on Ground Water

Ground Water

• E. coli poisoning• Blue baby syndrome

Surface Water

• Cryptosporidium parasite infection

• Giardia parasite • Pfisteria

North Carolina

• North Carolina has develop a site- specific P indexing system that is called Phosphorus Loss assessment Tool. This helps North Carolina to see how much phosphorus is lost in the agricultural fields. A study was done on 100 counties that were sampled in North Carolina. This was to see how many farms would have to make changes under the PLAT act.

How Phosphorus gets into our lakes and river.

• Runoff from roads

• Farmed fields

• Septic system

• Residential lawns with high phosphorus fertilizer

• Wastewater treatment

• Industrial waste

What you can do to stop excess phosphorus in ground and surface water

• Use fertilizers sparingly

• Use phosphorus free detergents

• Plant ground cover in bare spots in your yard

• Take car to car wash instead of washing in the driveway

• Pick up after your pet

• Don’t use CAFO manure for fertilizer

The schematic diagram below highlights the complexity of soil P

chemistry.

Web site1- http: www.jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract.com

This site talks about the North Carolina Phosphorus Loss Assessment tool.

2- www.1.fipr.state.fl.us/phosphateprimer.comThis site has information on the fertilization, where it was first mined, and how important phosphorus is to animals and plants.

3- www.3dchem.com this site tells what phosphorus is and its allotropic forms.

4- www.carrs-fertiliser.co.uk/.../scotphos4.html diagram of the schematic

5- http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iv/ecosystem/phosphorus-cycle.php

phosphorus cycle6- http://www.3dchem.com/moremolecules.asp?

ID=210&othername=Black%20Phosphorus Black Phosphorus7- http://nobel.scas.bcit.ca/resource/ptable/p.htm

Books

• Odum, P. Eugene, 1993, Ecology and Our Endangered Life-Support Systems, Sinauer Associates, Inc.

• Raven, Peter H., Berg, Linda R., Hassenzahl, David M., 2004,Environment, John Wiley & Sons,Inc.