P
Number: 15
Mass: 30 (-ish)
Although phosphorus makes up aspects of the human body, like DNA and our cell membranes, it never appears as a free element in nature. This is due to its extreme reactivity. Phosphorus "in the lab" is kept under water so as not to combust in contact with the oxygen in the air, it can burn right through skin and is used as a weapon (against bugs and fungus in the garden as well is humans in chemical warfare).
In 1669 a German alchemist was trying to distill "life essence" from his urine and observed a white glowing substance as a result. This phosphorus had been produced by inorganic phosphate present in urine. Red phosphorus does not glow.
Phosphorus has been used in studies as a catalyst in synthesizing diamond from graphite.
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