Researchers at UCL have created one-atom-thick ribbons made of phosphorus alloyed with arsenic that could dramatically improve the efficiency of devices such as batteries, supercapacitors and solar cells.
Nanomaterials
Sep 21, 2023
0
25
Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala are investigating the impact of phosphorous—both that which exists naturally in soil and that which has been added as manure or fertilizer—on ...
Ecology
Sep 11, 2023
0
9
Phosphorus is an important nutrient, but too much of it in lakes and streams can diminish water quality and lead to eutrophication, resulting in harmful algal blooms and dead zones. To restore waterways degraded by excess ...
Ecology
Aug 18, 2023
0
2
At present, more than 6 billion tons of phosphogypsum (PG) accumulates worldwide, with an annual growth of ~280 million tons. More than 60% is stored in mountains. Phosphorus pollution from PG due to rainwater immersion has ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jul 13, 2023
0
1
According to research by Lisanne Hendriks, an ecologist at Radboud University, azolla and duckweed are the best floating aquatic plants for purifying wastewater. The plants absorb nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and ...
Ecology
Jul 5, 2023
0
5
A new study finds that most phosphorus stakeholders—representing a wide swath of industry, agriculture, environmental and policy interests—have significant doubts about the long-term sustainability of existing phosphorus ...
Environment
Jul 5, 2023
1
21
NOAA and its research partners, including the University of Michigan, are forecasting that western Lake Erie will experience a smaller-than-average harmful algal bloom this summer, which would make it less severe than 2022.
Environment
Jun 29, 2023
0
1
One of humankind's most precious fertilizers is slipping away.
Environment
Jun 28, 2023
0
39
An international collaboration between researchers from Brazil and the United States has identified a process for turning poultry waste into a soil additive for agriculture.
Agriculture
Jun 27, 2023
0
5
The long hunt for extraterrestrials just got a big boost.
Astrobiology
Jun 18, 2023
0
73
Phosphorus (pronounced /ˈfɒsfərəs/) is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus is commonly found in inorganic phosphate rocks. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms - white phosphorus and red phosphorus. Although the term "phosphorescence", meaning glow after illumination, derives from phosphorus, glow of phosphorus originates from oxidation of the white (but not red) phosphorus and should be called chemiluminescence.
Due to its high reactivity, phosphorus is never found as a free element in nature on Earth. The first form of phosphorus to be discovered (white phosphorus, discovered in 1669) emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen — hence its name given from Greek mythology, Φωσφόρος meaning "light-bearer" (Latin Lucifer), referring to the "Morning Star", the planet Venus.
Phosphorus is a component of DNA, RNA, ATP, and also the phospholipids which form all cell membranes. It is thus an essential element for all living cells. The most important commercial use of phosphorus-based chemicals is the production of fertilizers.
Phosphorus compounds are also widely used in explosives, nerve agents, friction matches, fireworks, pesticides, toothpaste and detergents.
This text uses material from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA
