Chemical Poems: Phosphorus

Non-metal. Density: 1.82 g/cm³. The name is derived from the Latin phosphoros, meaning “the bearer of light” and which was the former name of the planet Venus. It appears in four forms: white, which is toxic and spontaneously flammable, red, viloet, and black, the latter three forms being much less harmful than the white form. It was discovered in 1675 by Hennig Brand through the distillation of urine. As an alchemist Brand was impressed by its brilliance in the dark, and attributed the element to the “essence of life” (élan vital [1]). He was not entirely wrong about the importance of its biological role. In fact, in a person weighing seventy kg, one kg of phosphorus is present: it is part of the bones, the nervous system, the genetic material, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The latter is the “universal fuel” that exists in every cell of every organism, quickly and efficiently delivering energy for vital functions, such as movements, metabolism, and neuronal activity.

It is used for the production of matches [1]. Phosporous polyphosphates are useful for washing, especially with hard water. Phosphoric acid is added to soft drinks to kill bacteria, prevent the reaction with oxygen and to provide a pleasant sour taste. Baking powders contain phosphates, together with sodium bicarbonate.

Phosphine (phosphorus hydride) results from the decomposition of organic materials and is the cause of faint lights in swamps and waste water. Phosphorus has been one of the components of poisonous gases and bombs in many wars. Furthermore, this element is a component of Sarin, the so-called “atom bomb of the poor”, used by the Aum sect in the attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 [1]. In appropriate amounts, phosphorus compounds are used as rat poisons.

[1] J. Emsley, The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus, J. Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, USA, 2000. ISBN: 978-0471441496

Hold tight a match in your hand
and imagine you are squeezing
the élan vital,
the essence of life
which Hennig Brand
thought he perceived
in his glowing
urine.
It’s the stuff within soaps,
soft drinks,
baking powder.
Perhaps you will smile,
as the world
is a toy.

Squeeze the match
and imagine you are pressing
the élan vital: neurons, genes,
the ATP
that moves
everything
inside you,
the material
of your bones.
Imagine sarin-gas,
phosphorous bombs,
rat poison,
swamp lights.

Once more, press tight
the match in your hand.