Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand in Germany. It exists naturally as phosphate minerals in the earth's crust and is essential for all life as a component of DNA, RNA, ATP, and bones. Phosphorus cycles through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as it weathers from rocks into soil and water, is absorbed by plants and animals, and returns to the environment through decomposition. Human activities like phosphate fertilizer production and forest clearing have disrupted the natural phosphorus cycle.

1. Reported by:
JOY FULGAR
Phosphorus Cycle

2. Phosphorus was discovered
by Hennig Brand at 1669 in
Germany. Origin of name:
from the Greek word
"phosphoros" meaning
"bringer of light"
Brand kept his process
a secret, phosphorus
was discovered
independently in 1680
by an English chemist,
Robert Boyle.

3. •Atomic Number: 15
•Atomic Weight: 30.973762
•Melting Point: 317.30 K (44.15°C or 111.47°F)
•Boiling Point: 553.65 K (280.5°C or 536.9°F)
•Density: 1.82 grams per cubic centimeter
•Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
•Element Classification: Non-metal
•Period Number: 3
•Group Number: 15
•Group Name: Pnictogen

4. A multivalent pnictogen,
phosphorus as a mineral is
almost always present in its
maximally oxidized state, as
inorganic phosphate rocks.
Elemental phosphorus exists in
two major forms—white
phosphorus and red
phosphorus—but due to its
high reactivity, phosphorus is
never found as a free element
on Earth.
In nature, Phosphorus exists in
form of phosphate.

5. White Phosphorus is used
in some explosives,
including rockets. This
caused an uproar because of
safety concerns.
Red Phosphorus is used
in match heads. You can
see the texture of a match
head next to the matches.
Fertilizer; Phosphorus is
known for being
essential to DNA and to a
lesser extent fertilizer

6.  It is an essential nutrient for plants and animals.
 It is a part of DNA-molecules and
RNA-molecules, molecules that store
energy (ATP and ADP)
 It is also a building block of certain
parts of the human and animal body,
such as the bones and teeth.

7. • Ecological Function
 Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for
plants and animals.
 Limiting nutrient for aquatic
organisms.
 Forms parts of important life-
sustaining molecules that are very
common in the biosphere.

8. • Biological Function
 The primary biological
importance of phosphates is as a
component of nucleotides, which
serve as energy storage within cells
(ATP) or when linked together, form
the nucleic acids DNA and RNA..

9. The biogeochemical cycle that describes the
movement of phosphorus through
the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles,
the atmosphere does not play a significant
role in the movement of phosphorus, because
phosphorus and phosphorus-based
compounds are usually solids at the typical
ranges of temperature and pressure found
on Earth.

11. Visualization of the Cycle

12. 1. Reservoir – erosion transfers phosphorus to
water and soil; sediments and rocks
that accumulate on ocean floors
return to the surface as a result of
uplifting by geological processes
2. Assimilation – plants absorb inorganic PO4
3-
(phosphate) from soils; animals
obtain organic phosphorus.
3. Release – plants and animals release
phosphorus when they decompose;
animals excrete phosphorus in their
waste products

13. We remove large amounts of phosphate
from the earth to make fertilizer.
We reduce phosphorous in tropical soils
by clearing forests.
We add excess phosphates to aquatic
systems from runoff of animal wastes and
fertilizers. (causes eutrophication)

15. REVIEW

16. 1. When rocks high in
phosphorus are exposed to
water, the rock weathers
out and goes into solution
2. Autotrophs absorb this
phosphorus and use it in
many different ways,
3. Then the plant is eaten
by a heterotroph and
obtains phosphorus from
the plant
4. Then the phosphate
leaves the body, and
decomposers move the
phosphorus into the soil or
water then another plant
will absorb this
phosphorus.