15
P
Phosphorus
nonmetal
Discovered : Hennig Brand, 1669. First element discovered by a named scientist.
Found in : Apatite, turquoise, vivianite, pyromorphite.
Used for : Fertilizers, DNA and ATP, matches, detergents.
Remarkable : Discovered accidentally while evaporating urine in search of gold. Known phosphate reserves are finite, making this a future geopolitical concern.
Minerals containing Phosphorus
