the phosphorus cycle masta b yoo, devin kim, drew li, justin yun, raymond kim

The Phosphorus CycleThe Phosphorus Cycle

Masta B Yoo, Devin Kim, Drew Li, Masta B Yoo, Devin Kim, Drew Li, Justin Yun, Raymond Kim Justin Yun, Raymond Kim

Basic ChemistryBasic Chemistry

Essential element of lifeEssential element of life Phosphorus is a Group 15 (5A) Phosphorus is a Group 15 (5A)

elementelement Symbol: PSymbol: P Atomic number: 15Atomic number: 15 Atomic mass: 30.974Atomic mass: 30.974 Color: colorless/ red/ silvery whiteColor: colorless/ red/ silvery white

Basic Chemistry continuedBasic Chemistry continued

NonmetalNonmetal Density: 1823 kg/mDensity: 1823 kg/m33

Atomic radius: 100 pmAtomic radius: 100 pm SolidSolid Melting Point: 317.3 KMelting Point: 317.3 K Boiling Point: 550 KBoiling Point: 550 K

Basic Chemistry continuedBasic Chemistry continued

Key ingredient to plants Key ingredient to plants fertilizersfertilizers

In nature, Phosphorus exists in In nature, Phosphorus exists in form of Phosphateform of Phosphate

Basic Chemistry, cont.Basic Chemistry, cont.

Formulas of rocks containing Formulas of rocks containing phosphate are fluoroapatite phosphate are fluoroapatite (3Ca(3Ca33(PO(PO44))22.CaF.CaF22), ), chloroapaptite, chloroapaptite, (3Ca(3Ca33(PO(PO44))22.CaCl.CaCl22), and ), and hydroxyapatite hydroxyapatite (3Ca(3Ca33(PO(PO44))22.Ca(OH).Ca(OH)22))

Description of PhosphorusDescription of Phosphorus Most common form of phosphorus is Most common form of phosphorus is

red and white.red and white. Both are tetrahedral groups of four Both are tetrahedral groups of four

atoms.atoms. White phosphorus burns on contact White phosphorus burns on contact

with air and can change into red with air and can change into red phosphorus when exposed to light or phosphorus when exposed to light or heat. heat.

Description of Phosphorus Cont.Description of Phosphorus Cont.

White phosphorus has two White phosphorus has two modifications.modifications.

–Ordinary phosphorus is waxy Ordinary phosphorus is waxy white solid.white solid.

–When pure it is colorless and When pure it is colorless and transparent.transparent.

Description, Cont.Description, Cont.

Pure phosphorus is insoluble in Pure phosphorus is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon water but soluble in carbon disulphidedisulphide

–Catches fire spontaneously in air.Catches fire spontaneously in air.

BackgroundBackground

Very poisonousVery poisonous Never found in free natureNever found in free nature Essential ingredient of all cell Essential ingredient of all cell

protoplasm, nervous tissue, and bonesprotoplasm, nervous tissue, and bones Most commonly found as phosphatesMost commonly found as phosphates Part of DNA materials and energy Part of DNA materials and energy

distributiondistribution

Uses of PhosphorusUses of Phosphorus

Used to make waterproof matches, Used to make waterproof matches, pyrotechnics, smoke screens, tracer pyrotechnics, smoke screens, tracer bullets, and incendiary shells.bullets, and incendiary shells.

Used in fertilizerUsed in fertilizer Used to produce special glasses, Used to produce special glasses,

for example sodium lampsfor example sodium lamps

Uses, continuedUses, continued Calcium Phosphate is used to create fine Calcium Phosphate is used to create fine

ChinawareChinaware Monocalcium Phosphate used to make Monocalcium Phosphate used to make

baking powderbaking powder Used in making steel, and Phosphor Used in making steel, and Phosphor

BronzeBronze NaNa33POPO44 is used as a cleaning agent, water is used as a cleaning agent, water

softener, and also prevents corrosion in softener, and also prevents corrosion in pipespipes

Hazards and RisksHazards and Risks

Severely toxicSeverely toxic White form is more toxic than red formWhite form is more toxic than red form Chronic poisoning leads to necrosis of Chronic poisoning leads to necrosis of

jaw (phossy-jaw)jaw (phossy-jaw) Phosphate pollution comes from Phosphate pollution comes from

detergents, insecticides, and fertilizersdetergents, insecticides, and fertilizers Inorganic phosphorus is harmlessInorganic phosphorus is harmless


The phosphorus cycle does not The phosphorus cycle does not have a gas phase, but small have a gas phase, but small amounts of phosphoric acid rise amounts of phosphoric acid rise into the atmosphere, contributing into the atmosphere, contributing to acidic precipitation.to acidic precipitation.


The water, carbon, and sulfur The water, carbon, and sulfur cycles all include at least one phase cycles all include at least one phase in which the element is in its in which the element is in its gaseous state. The largest reservoir gaseous state. The largest reservoir of phosphorus is in sedimentary of phosphorus is in sedimentary rock.rock.

The CycleThe Cycle

Description of CycleDescription of Cycle

Simplest of the cyclesSimplest of the cycles Phosphorus has only one form – Phosphorus has only one form –

phosphatephosphate

–Always part of an organism, Always part of an organism, dissolved in water, or in the form dissolved in water, or in the form of rockof rock

Description of CycleDescription of Cycle Phosphorus enters environment Phosphorus enters environment

from rocks or depositsfrom rocks or deposits Apatite is the phosphate rock Apatite is the phosphate rock

where phosphate is availablewhere phosphate is available Weathering and erosion releases Weathering and erosion releases

phosphate ions that are soluble in phosphate ions that are soluble in waterwater

Description, cont.Description, cont.

Phosphate then acts as fertilizers or Phosphate then acts as fertilizers or nutrients for land plantsnutrients for land plants

It gets incorporated into molecules It gets incorporated into molecules essential for life like ATP, essential for life like ATP, adenosine triphosphate – this is adenosine triphosphate – this is important in storage and use of important in storage and use of energyenergy


Phosphate is in backbone of DNA Phosphate is in backbone of DNA and RNAand RNA

When animals and plants die, When animals and plants die, phosphates will return to the soils phosphates will return to the soils or oceans again during decayor oceans again during decay


Phosphorus cycles through plants Phosphorus cycles through plants and animals much faster than it and animals much faster than it does through rocks and sediments..does through rocks and sediments..

A lot of phosphate goes into the A lot of phosphate goes into the water from erosion and leachingwater from erosion and leaching

Water plants use this phosphate as Water plants use this phosphate as nutrientsnutrients


Phosphate is the limiting agent in Phosphate is the limiting agent in growth of plants and algaegrowth of plants and algae

If there is a lack of phosphate, If there is a lack of phosphate, plants grow slowly or are stuntedplants grow slowly or are stunted

If too much, excess growth may If too much, excess growth may occuroccur


Phosphate in water is precipitated from Phosphate in water is precipitated from water as ion phosphate (insoluble)water as ion phosphate (insoluble)

Phosphate in shallow sediment may be Phosphate in shallow sediment may be recycled into waterrecycled into water

In deep sediment in water, it is In deep sediment in water, it is available as part of as part of rock available as part of as part of rock formations for cycle to repeatformations for cycle to repeat


After that, phosphorus will end up After that, phosphorus will end up in sediments or rock formations in sediments or rock formations again, remaining there for millions again, remaining there for millions of years.of years.

Eventually, phosphorus is released Eventually, phosphorus is released again through weathering and the again through weathering and the cycle starts over.cycle starts over.

Human Influences on CycleHuman Influences on Cycle

Human influences on phosphate Human influences on phosphate cycle mostly comes from cycle mostly comes from introduction & use of commercial introduction & use of commercial synthetic fertilizers.synthetic fertilizers.

Phosphate obtained by mining at Phosphate obtained by mining at certain deposits of calcium certain deposits of calcium phosphate called apatite. phosphate called apatite.

Influences cont.Influences cont.

Phosphate rock and sulfuric acid Phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are combined to make a fertilizer are combined to make a fertilizer called “super phosphate.”called “super phosphate.”

There are many negative effects of There are many negative effects of using this fertilizer.using this fertilizer.


A lot of the fertilizer is lost through A lot of the fertilizer is lost through the water run-off because plants the water run-off because plants aren’t able to use up all of it.aren’t able to use up all of it.

Eventually the wasted phosphate in Eventually the wasted phosphate in the water is precipitated as it settles the water is precipitated as it settles at the bottom of the body of water.at the bottom of the body of water.


In some lakes & ponds the In some lakes & ponds the phosphate can be recycled as a phosphate can be recycled as a problem nutrient. problem nutrient.

Other sources of phosphate are in Other sources of phosphate are in out flows from local sewage out flows from local sewage treatment plans.treatment plans.

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

Originally, phosphorus was Originally, phosphorus was extracted from urineextracted from urine..

Highly energy intensive.Highly energy intensive. Gr. Gr. phosphorosphosphoros, meaning “light , meaning “light

bearer”bearer”

Facts, cont.Facts, cont.

In 1669, German alchemist Henning In 1669, German alchemist Henning Brand discovered phosphorus from a Brand discovered phosphorus from a preparation from urine.preparation from urine.

The only correct spelling of the The only correct spelling of the element is element is phosphorusphosphorus. There does . There does exist a word exist a word phosphorousphosphorous, but it is the , but it is the adjectival form for the smaller valencyadjectival form for the smaller valency

BibliographyBibliography

““Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems.” Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems.” http://home.earthlink.net/~dayvdanhttp://home.earthlink.net/~dayvdanls/ecosys4.htm 17 September 2004ls/ecosys4.htm 17 September 2004

““Phosphorus.” Phosphorus.” http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elemhttp://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/15.html 17 September 2004ents/15.html 17 September 2004

Bibliography cont.Bibliography cont. ““Web-Elements.” Web-Elements.”

http://www.webelements.com/webelemenhttp://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/P/key.html 17 September ts/elements/text/P/key.html 17 September 20042004

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus 17 September 200417 September 2004

““Virtual Chembook.” Virtual Chembook.” http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembohttp://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/308phosphorus.html 17 September ok/308phosphorus.html 17 September 20042004

the phosphorus cycle masta b yoo, devin kim, drew li, justin yun, raymond kim

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