What is phosphorus atom?

   

 Phosphorus is a chemical element with the symbol P and atomic number 15.  Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms, white phosphorus and red phosphorus, but because it is highly reactive, phosphorus is never fond as a free element on earth.  It has a concentration in the Earth's crust of about one gram per kilogram (compare copper at about 0.06 grams).  In minerals, phosphorus generally occurs as phosphate. 

     Elemental phosphorus was first isolated as white phosphorus in 1669.  White phosphorus emits a faint glow when exposed to oxygen-hence the name taken from Greek mythology, its meaning "light-bearer" referring to the "Morning star" the plant Venus.  The term "phosphorescence" meaning glow after illumination, derives from this since been used for a different physical process that produces a glow.  The glow of phosphorus -a process now called chemiuminescence. Together with nitrogen, arsenic, antimony end bismuth, phosphorus is classified as s pnictogen.

     Phosphorus is essential for life.  Phosphates (compounds containing the phosphate ion, PO4 3-) are a component of DNA,RNA,ATP,and Phospholipids.  Elemental phosphate source.  Phosphate mines contain fossils because phosphate is present in the fossilized deposits of animal remains and excreta.  Low phosphate levels are an important limit to growth in some aquatic systems.