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INDUSTRIAL USES

HEALTH: In living beings, phosphosrus is found in bones, teeth, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), in the energy carriers (such as ATP), lipids, proteins and enzymes. This shows theimportance of phosphorus to the health of body in general and bones and teeth in particular.

FIRE STARTER: Since phosphorus catches fire readily, it is used in all matches; earlier white phosphoruswas used and in today's "safety matches" red phosphorus is used. The red phosphorus is safe because it is less volatile and less poisonous (0.1 g of white phosphorus can kill a person!) and eliminatesthe accidental fire as it catches fire much less readily.

FIRE STOPPER: One interesting irony is that phosphorus used to make fires (in its elemental form) is used to stop or reduce the hazards offire (in the form of chemicals derived from it). Phosphorus compounds are among the best flame-retardants for many flammable materials; many are used as plasticizers and flame-retardants as two-in-one.LUBRICANTS: High temperature lubricants are many times organo phosphates with good lubrication, thermal stablility and fire-resistant properties.

SURFACTANTS, CLEANERS: This use is beingreduced at very high rate.
PHYSYCAL PROPERTYS:
Phosphorus exists in three main allotropic (distinctly different) forms: ordinary (or white) phosphorus, red phosphorus, and black phosphorus. Of these,only white and red phosphorus are of commercial importance. When freshly prepared, ordinary phosphorus is white, but it turns light yellow when exposed to sunlight. It is a crystalline, translucent, waxysolid, which glows faintly in moist air and is extremely poisonous. It ignites spontaneously in air at 34°C (93°F) and must be stored under water. It is insoluble in water, slightly soluble inorganic solvents, and very soluble in carbon disulfide. White phosphorus melts at 44.1°C (111.4°F), boils at 280°C (536°F), and has a specific gravity of 1.8. White phosphorus is prepared commercially by...