Phosphorus

Atomic number

15

Atomic mass (u)

30.97376200

Category

Nonmetal

Standard state

Solid

Melting point

44.15 °C (317.3 K)

Boiling point

280.5 °C (553.65 K)

Density (g/cm³)

1.82

Electronegativity (Pauling)

2.19

Electron configuration

[Ne]3s2 3p3

Oxidation states

+5, +3, -3

Atomic radius (pm)

180

First ionization energy (eV)

10.487

Discovery & recognition

Discovery year / period (PubChem)

1669

Discovery credited to (RSC)

Hennig Brandt

Date or period recorded by RSC

1669

Discovery place

Not supplied in the structured record; see the RSC history source.

An ancient date does not identify a first human discovery. Different references may date observation, isolation and formal recognition differently.

Natural occurrence & production

The creation of an element’s nuclei and its concentration into terrestrial deposits are different processes. The occurrence note below concerns its presence or production on Earth; it is not a complete account of nucleosynthesis.

“Phosphorus is not found uncombined in nature, but is widely found in compounds in minerals.”

Royal Society of Chemistry · occurrence excerpt ↗

Continue the research

Reference values are not product specifications. Blank values have not been estimated. For superheavy elements, some properties and family assignments are theoretical or incompletely measured.