An Introduction to Phosphorus: History, Production, and Application.

When it was discovered in 1669, phosphorus became a wonder of the European courts and fairs, with the chemiluminescent combination of phosphorus and atmospheric oxygen producing a light show no one had ever seen before or even thought possible. Within ten years of its discovery, a new curiosity emerged when Robert Boyle improved the production method by adding SiO₂ to the mix, then coating paper with the resulting phosphorus. When he drew a wood splinter through the paper, it lit on fire. From that essential function of providing instant fire, phosphorus eventually found other uses, including fertilizer and detergents. Today, very few smelters of any capacity remain, with the greatest production volume coming from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]