Phosphorus was discovered in 1669. It was discovered when German scientist, Hennig Brand boiled buckets of urine. Brand was a physician and an alchemist. Although this method is disgusting it has impacted the world today. Now, it is extracted from phosphate rocks. The origin of its name is from the Greek word Phosphoros. Phosphorus has a very interesting history that impacts the world today.

Phosphorus is mostly the colors white, black and red. These color variations have different affects, for example, white can be dangerous and cause fire. Red phosphorus is used in things like matches and pesticides, and unlike white is not poisonous. Black phosphorus is less reactive then the other two versions. Phosphorus can be used to help people today and in the future.

There once was an element of phosphorus named Perry. Perry wanted to go on a trip around the world. He wants to visit everywhere from the depths of the earth to the atmosphere.

Hi I'm Perry.

Perry is starting his adventure by traveling to Hawaii. He is going to the island of Maui.

While he is in Maui, Perry is going to the Haleakala volcano. This volcano is partially active, but Perry is going on an exclusive trip down into the volcano.

Perry is on his way down the volcano now. The temperature gets hotter and hotter as he journeys further down.

I am using the balloons to fly close to the lava.

As Perry comes closer and closer to the lava, the temperature increases and Perry becomes very hot. He realizes that he is starting to melt!

Perry pulls out his thermometer and takes the temperature of the air around him. The thermometer reads 44.1 degrees celsius and 111.38 degrees farenheight. Then he flies up and out of the volcano.

44.1 celsius must be the melting point of all phosphorus atoms, like me.

After looking at the temperature, Perry calculated his overall density outside of the heat of the volcano.

My density in room temperature is 1.82 grams per cubic centimeter.

Perry also discovered what his state of matter is at room temperature while he was calculating his density.

I learned that I am solid when I am in room temperature.

Perry really liked how the volcano revealed information about him. Perry decided to try and discover more about phosphorus, like himself, while he is on his trip.

Now I would like to investigate the earth's structure. I might find out something about elements along the way.

Perry started to dig in the sand and he dug so far that he could start to examine the earth's crust! Perry noticed other phosphorus elements in the layers of rock.

Perry saw all of the other phosphorus elements and started talking to them. One of them named Pam told Perry that there are 0.099% phosphorus elements in earth's crust.

Pam told Perry that many people come to get phosphorus and then they sell it. She said that it is sold for $30 per 100g.