In 1669, a chemist named Hennig Brand in Germany prepared a luminous substance from urine. He called it ‘cold fire’ as it glowed in the dark. This substance was phosphorus.
The name phosphorus is derived from the Greek word ‘phosphoros’, which means “bringer of light.”
Like other non-metals, pure phosphorus can assume different forms. There are several phosphorus allotropes. Four common forms are white, red, violet, and black phosphorus. Brand had discovered white phosphorus. He was extremely secretive about the method he used to produce phosphorus from urine. Ultimately, he sold the recipe to D. Krafft, a commercial agent from Dresden, Germany. A few years later, Johann Kunckel in Sweden managed to make phosphorus. Robert Boyle in London followed suit.
The forerunner of modern matches was first introduced by Robert Boyle who used phosphorus to ignite sulphur-tipped wooden splints in 1680.
Phosphorus is essential for life. It is a component of DNA, RNA, ATP, and phospholipids. Phosphate also serves as a great fertilizer.
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