Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this demonstration, white phosphorus is burn in a flask of pure oxygen.
A similar demonstration was first carried out by the German alchemist Hennig Brand, the discoverer of phosphorus, in 1669. He was trying to create the 'philosopher's stone', a magical substance that could turn lead into gold. In doing so, he distilled urine mixed and inadvertently discovered the element phosphorus. The demonstration initially led to the name 'phosphorus mirabilis', which means 'miraculous bearer of light'.
The balanced equation for the reaction is thought to be:
4NaPO3 + 2SiO2 + 10 C → 2Na2SiO3 + 10CO + P4
Phosphorus was the 13th element to be discovered, and probably the first for which we can pinpoint the moment of discovery. This reaction led to it sometimes being referred to as 'the Devil's element'.
In this demonstration, white phosphorus is burn in a flask of pure oxygen.
A similar demonstration was first carried out by the German alchemist Hennig Brand, the discoverer of phosphorus, in 1669. He was trying to create the 'philosopher's stone', a magical substance that could turn lead into gold. In doing so, he distilled urine mixed and inadvertently discovered the element phosphorus. The demonstration initially led to the name 'phosphorus mirabilis', which means 'miraculous bearer of light'.
The balanced equation for the reaction is thought to be:
4NaPO3 + 2SiO2 + 10 C → 2Na2SiO3 + 10CO + P4
Phosphorus was the 13th element to be discovered, and probably the first for which we can pinpoint the moment of discovery. This reaction led to it sometimes being referred to as 'the Devil's element'.
