Saturday, January 14, 2012

Discovery of phosphorus

Element of phosphorus was originally discovered by Dr. Hennig Brandt of Hamburg. Brandt, a German chemist was living at the Michaelisplatz in Hamburg in the newer part of the city.

When his alchemical experiments revealed the beautiful light giving element, Brandt called it cold fire (kaltes feuer), or affectionately, ‘mein Feuer.’’ It was accidentally discovered when Brandt was engaged in searching for the Philosopher’s stone.

It was first isolated from urine in 1669. It consisted in evaporating putrid urine to dryness, and distilling the residue at an intense heat in a stoneware retort. The method obtaining it remained secret till it was a second time discovered by Kunkel in the year 1680.

One hundred year later after the discovery that much higher concentrations could be found in teeth and bones though now it is obtained from ore deposits.

In the year 1774, the Swedish chemists, Ghan and Sceheele, made the important discovery, that phosphorus is contained in the bones of animals and they improved then processed for procuring it.

Actually, the use of phosphorus materials as fertilizers was practiced unknowingly long before the isolation and discovery of phosphorus. As early as 200 BC the Carthaginians recommend and employed bird droppings to increase the yields for their fields.

The Incas of Peru prized guano and bird droppings on their islands so highly that it was made a capital offense to kill birds.
Discovery of phosphorus

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