Element of the day

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a chemical element with atomic number 15. Phosphorus was accidentally discovered by an alchemist who was literally trying to turn urine into gold.

15
P
Phosphorus

Discovery

Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by German alchemist Hennig Brand.

Name Roots

“Phos” means light and “Phoros” means bearer/carrier. It got this name because white phosphorus glows faintly in the dark.

Interesting Fact

Phosphorus was accidentally discovered by an alchemist who was literally trying to turn urine into gold.

AP Chemistry Content Resources

Unit Content Reviews

Unit 1

Atomic stuctures and properties

You’ll learn about the composition of atoms and ways scientists measure and categorize these building blocks of matter.

Unit 2

Compound structure and properties

You’ll discover the range of chemical bonds and how their structure can affect the properties of the molecules created.

Unit 3

Properties of substances and mixtures

You’ll explore how atoms come together to create solids, liquids, and gases, and how forces between particles govern the properties of everything around you.

Unit 4

Chemical reactions

You’ll learn how to differentiate physical and chemical processes, and how to measure and express chemical reactions via chemical equations.

Unit 5

Kinetics

You’ll explore various methods to observe the changes that occur during a chemical reaction, the factors that influence reaction rate, and how it relates to a series of elementary reactions.

Unit 6

Thermochemistry

You’ll learn about energy changes in chemical reactions and how a transfer of energy can change a substance’s physical qualities.

Unit 7

Equilibrium

You’ll chart how chemical reactions change over time, what causes substances to reach equilibrium, and how systems react when that equilibrium is disturbed.

Unit 8

Acids and bases

You’ll learn more about pH, the qualities and properties of acids and bases, and how they interact in chemical reactions.

Unit 9

Thermodynamics and electrochemistry

You’ll be introduced to the concept of “thermodynamic favorability” for reactions, meaning how likely they are to occur given energy changes and environmental factors, and how chemical reactions can be used to generate electricity.

Meet our team