P 15

Phosphorus (P)

nonmetal

Period: 3 Group: 15 Block: p

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

Electron configuration

[Ne] 3s² 3p³

Melting point

44.15 °C (317.3 K)

Boiling point

280.5 °C (553.65 K)

Density

1820 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

Electronegativity (Pauling)

2.19

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

1669

Atomic radius

100 pm

Details

Name origin Greek: phosphoros, (bringer of light).

Discovery country Germany

Discoverers Hennig Brand

Phosphorus is a reactive nonmetal in group 15 and is essential to life as a component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, and energy-transfer molecules. It does not occur naturally as the free element because it is readily oxidized, but it is abundant in phosphate minerals. Elemental phosphorus is notable for its several allotropes, especially highly reactive white phosphorus and more stable red and black forms.

Phosphorus exists in four or more allotropic forms: white (or yellow), red, and black (or violet). Ordinary phosphorus is a waxy white solid; when pure it is colorless and transparent. White phosphorus has two modifications: alpha and beta with a transition temperature at -3.8°C.

It is insoluble in water, but soluble in carbon disulfide. It takes fire spontaneously in air, burning to the pentoxide.

The name derives from the Greek phosphoros for "bringing light" because it has the property of glowing in the dark. This was also the ancient name for the planet Venus, when it appears before sunrise. Phosphorus was discovered by the German merchant Hennig Brand in 1669.

In what is perhaps the most disgusting method of discovering an element, phosphorus was first isolated in 1669 by Hennig Brand, a German physician and alchemist, by boiling, filtering and otherwise processing as many as 60 buckets of urine. Thankfully, phosphorus is now primarily obtained from phosphate rock (Ca3(PO4)2).

From the Greek phosphoros, light bearing; ancient name for the planet Venus when appearing before sunrise. Brand discovered phosphorus in 1669 by preparing it from urine.

Read about Phosphorus on Wikipedia

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 100 pm

Covalent radius 107 pm

Van der Waals radius 180 pm

Metallic radius 110 pm

Density

Molar volume 0.017 L/mol

Phase at STP solid

Melting point 44.15 °C

Boiling point 280.5 °C

Specific heat capacity 0.769 J/(g·K)

Molar heat capacity 23.824 J/(mol·K)

Crystal structure cubic

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 2.19

Electronegativity (Allen) 2.253

Electron affinity

Ionization energy (1st)

Ionization energy (2nd)

Ionization energy (3rd)

Ionization energy (4th)

Ionization energy (5th)

Oxidation states −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

Valence electrons 5

Allotropes ["red", "white"]

Electron configuration

Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Critical point (temperature) 721 °C

Heat of fusion 0.00684044 eV

Heat of vaporization 0.12851739 eV

Heat of sublimation 3.271597 eV

Heat of atomization 3.271597 eV

Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 1

Discovery year 1669

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 1050 mg/kg

Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 717 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 8, 5

Identifiers

CAS number 7723-14-0

Term symbol

InChI InChI=1S/P

InChI Key OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge

Protons 15

Electrons 15

Charge Neutral

Configuration P: 3s² 3p³

[Ne] 3s² 3p³

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³

Orbital diagram

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

2/2

↑↓

6/6

↑↓

2/2

↑

3/6 3↑

Total electrons: 15 Unpaired: 3

Atomic model

Protons 15

Neutrons 16

Electrons 15

Mass number 31

Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life
31 Stable	30.97376199842 ± 0.0000000007	100.0000%	Stable

Measured

Phase / State

Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 19.2 °C below melting point (44.15 °C)

Melting point 44.15 °C

Boiling point 280.5 °C

Below melting by 19.2 °C

0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K

Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Melting

Boiling

25°C

Solid

Liquid

Gas

Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature

44.15 °C

Boiling point Literature

280.5 °C

Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature

0.00684044 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature

0.12851739 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature

3.271597 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature

1820 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated

1820 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Advanced

Critical point Literature

721 °C

Atomic Spectra

Showing 10 of 15 Atomic Spectra. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).

Lines Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Total lines	Transition probabilities	Level designations
P I	0	258	132	133
P II	+1	100	73	73
P III	+2	70	23	23
P IV	+3	129	78	78
P V	+4	48	30	30
P VI	+5	5	5	5
P VII	+6	3	3	3
P VIII	+7	20	20	20
P IX	+8	47	47	47
P X	+9	26	26	26

NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

Ion	Charge	Levels
P I	0	289
P II	+1	162
P III	+2	129
P IV	+3	211
P V	+4	68
P VI	+5	60
P VII	+6	62
P VIII	+7	65
P IX	+8	48
P X	+9	58

NIST Levels Holdings →

15 P 30.973761998

Phosphorus — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[Ne]3s23p3

Energy levels 2 8 5

Oxidation states -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5

HOMO 3p n=3 · l=1 · m=-1

Phosphorus — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview

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15 P 30.973761998

Phosphorus — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Primitive Cubic · Pearson cP1

Experimental

Pearson cP1

Coord. № 6

Packing 52.000%

Phosphorus — Crystal Structure Visualizer Preview

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Ionic Radii

Charge	Coordination	Spin	Radius
+3	6	N/A	44 pm
+5	4	N/A	17 pm
+5	5	N/A	28.999999999999996 pm
+5	6	N/A	38 pm

Compounds

30.974 u

P-3

30.974 u

P-

30.974 u

P-3

30.974 u

Isotopes (1)

	Mass number	Atomic mass (u)	Natural abundance	Half-life	Decay mode
	31 Stable	30.97376199842 ± 0.0000000007	100.0000%	Stable	stable

31 Stable

Atomic mass (u) 30.97376199842 ± 0.0000000007

Natural abundance 100.0000%

Half-life Stable

Decay mode

stable

Spectral Lines

Showing 50 of 122 Spectral Lines. Only spectral lines with measured intensity are shown by default.

Wavelength (nm)	Intensity	Ion stage	Type	Transition	Accuracy	Source
460.2069 nm	600	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.4d 3F*	Measured	NIST
422.2198 nm	500	P III	emission	3s2.4s 2S → 3s2.4p 2P*	Measured	NIST
458.8032 nm	500	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.4d 3F*	Measured	NIST
458.9846 nm	500	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.4d 3F*	Measured	NIST
494.3497 nm	500	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
602.418 nm	500	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3D	Measured	NIST
604.308 nm	500	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3D	Measured	NIST
405.9312 nm	400	P III	emission	3s2.3d 2D → 3s2.4p 2P*	Measured	NIST
442.0712 nm	400	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 1P* → 3s2.3p.4p 1S	Measured	NIST
529.6077 nm	400	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3S	Measured	NIST
542.588 nm	400	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
545.0709 nm	400	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
603.404 nm	400	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3D	Measured	NIST
424.672 nm	350	P III	emission	3s2.4s 2S → 3s2.4p 2P*	Measured	NIST
608.784 nm	350	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3D	Measured	NIST
616.56 nm	350	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3D	Measured	NIST
395.7641 nm	300	P III	emission	3s.3p.(3P).4s 4P → 3s.3p.(3P*).4p 4P	Measured	NIST
408.0089 nm	300	P III	emission	3s2.3d 2D → 3s2.4p 2P*	Measured	NIST
424.9655 nm	300	P IV	emission	3s.4s 1S → 3s.4p 1P*	Measured	NIST
462.6708 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.4d 3F*	Measured	NIST
465.8309 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.4d 3F*	Measured	NIST
495.4367 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
496.9701 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
525.3479 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 1P* → 3s2.3p.4p 1D	Measured	NIST
534.4729 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
538.6895 nm	300	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
531.6055 nm	250	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
537.8192 nm	250	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
558.8301 nm	250	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3S → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
605.55 nm	250	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 1D → 3s2.3p.5s 1P*	Measured	NIST
390.4811 nm	200	P III	emission	3s.3p.(3P).4s 4P → 3s.3p.(3P*).4p 4P	Measured	NIST
405.7449 nm	200	P III	emission	3s2.3d 2D → 3s2.4p 2P*	Measured	NIST
438.5393 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 1P → 3s2.3p.5s 1P*	Measured	NIST
447.527 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.4d 3D*	Measured	NIST
449.923 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 1D → 3s2.3p.4d 1F*	Measured	NIST
486.4426 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
540.9722 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
548.3519 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
549.9697 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3P	Measured	NIST
550.7174 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
554.1139 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
558.3235 nm	200	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3P → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
534.5854 nm	180	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4s 2P → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5p 2P*	Measured	NIST
547.7672 nm	180	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4s 2P → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5p 2D*	Measured	NIST
716.547 nm	180	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4p 4D* → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5d 4F	Measured	NIST
717.666 nm	180	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4p 4D* → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5d 4F	Measured	NIST
492.7197 nm	150	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4p 3D → 3s2.3p.5s 3P*	Measured	NIST
519.1393 nm	150	P II	emission	3s2.3p.4s 3P* → 3s2.3p.4p 3S	Measured	NIST
510.9625 nm	140	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4s 4P → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5p 4P*	Measured	NIST
515.4842 nm	140	P I	emission	3s2.3p2.(3P).4s 4P → 3s2.3p2.(3P).5p 4D*	Measured	NIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö, triple)

Van der Waals Radii

Bondi

Batsanov

Alvarez

UFF

MM3

Dreiding

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)

Metallic radius (C12)

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev

Pettifor

Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh

Miedema

Gunnarsson–Lundqvist

Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability

Dipole polarizability (unc.)

C₆

C₆ (Gould–Bučko)

Chemical Affinity

Proton affinity

Gas basicity

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume

Miedema electron density

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration

Relative supply risk

Reserve distribution

Political stability (top producer)

Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

white

Melting point	317.3 K
Boiling point	553.65 K
Critical point (temperature)	994.15 K

red Sublimation

Melting point	852.35 K
Boiling point	704.15 K
Critical point (temperature)	994.15 K

Oxidation State Categories

+1 extended

−1 extended

+4 extended

+5 main

+2 extended

−2 extended

0 extended

−3 main

+3 main

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (5)

n	Orbital	σ
1	s	0.4422
2	p	4.0388
2	s	5.175
3	p	10.1136
3	s	9.3582

Crystal Radii Detail (4)

Charge	CN	r_crystal (pm)	Origin
3	VI	58	Ahrens (1952) ionic radius,
5	IV	31
5	V	43
5	VI	52	calculated,

Isotope Decay Modes (50)

Isotope	Mode	Intensity
24	p	—
24	B+	—
24	B+p	—
25	p	—
26	B+	100%
26	B+p	35.1%
26	2p	2%
27	B+	100%
27	B+p	0.1%
28	B+	100%

X‑ray Scattering Factors (504)

Energy (eV)	f₁	f₂
10	—	8.47738
10.1617	—	8.27092
10.3261	—	8.06949
10.4931	—	7.87297
10.6628	—	7.68123
10.8353	—	7.49416
11.0106	—	7.31165
11.1886	—	7.13359
11.3696	—	6.95985
11.5535	—	6.79035

Additional Data

Estimated Crustal Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's crust.

1.05×103 milligrams per kilogram

References (1)

[5] Phosphorus https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele015.html

Estimated Oceanic Abundance

The estimated element abundance in the earth's oceans.

6×10-2 milligrams per liter

References (1)

[5] Phosphorus https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele015.html

Sources

Sources of this element.

Never found free in nature, it is widely distributed in combination with minerals. Phosphate rock, which contains the mineral apatite, an impure tri-calcium phosphate, is an important source of the element. Large deposits are found in Russia, in Morocco, and in Florida, Tennessee, Utah, Idaho, and elsewhere.

References (1)

[6] Phosphorus https://periodic.lanl.gov/15.shtml

Production

Production of this element (from raw materials or other compounds containing the element).

White phosphorus may be made by several methods. By one process, tri-calcium phosphate, the essential ingredient of phosphate rock, is heated in the presence of carbon and silica in an electric furnace or fuel-fired furnace. Elementary phosphorus is liberated as vapor and may be collected under phosphoric acid, an important compound in making super-phosphate fertilizers.

References (1)

[6] Phosphorus https://periodic.lanl.gov/15.shtml

References

(9)

1 PubChem

Data deposited in or computed by PubChem

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2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)

Phosphorus

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

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4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

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License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.

5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy

Phosphorus

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

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License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html

6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy

Phosphorus

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

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7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory

Phosphorus

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

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8 PubChem Elements

Phosphorus

This section provides all form of data related to element Phosphorus.

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9 PubChem Elements

Phosphorus

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

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Last updated: May 1, 2026