PHOSPHORUS In 1669 the German alchemist Hennig Brand discovered the chemical element known as phosphorus. The element got its name from the Greek phosphoros, meaning "light bearing," because in the dark and in moist air it can be seen to glow with a dull white light. For a time early scientists thought that phosphorus might be the source of the light emitted by fireflies and certain other creatures. It is not. The firefly' s light, however, …showed first 75 words of 906 total…

…showed last 75 words of 906 total…to make the proteins and enzymes that an organism needs to carry out its life processes. In another series of biochemical reactions a phosphate group and ADP are combined to form ATP. The energy therefore is stored in ATP becomes available to power other biochemical reactions. Properties of Phosphorus Symbol: P Atomic Number: 15 Atomic Weight: 30.9738 Group in Periodic Table: Va Specific Gravity at : 39.2º F (4º C) (white) 1.82 Boiling Point : (white) 536º F (280º C) Melting Point: 111.4º F (44.1º C)