In search of the Philosopher’s Stone, Hening Brand accidentally discovered phosphorus.

In search of the Philosopher’s Stone, Hening Brand accidentally discovered phosphorus. For a long time he kept secret the method of obtaining it, since the demonstration of phosphorus brought considerable income. What method of obtaining phosphorus do you know? What property of phosphorus allowed Brand to get rich?

Phosphorus is obtained from apatites or phosphorites as a result of interaction with coke and silica at a temperature of about 1600 ° C. Chemically white phosphorus is extremely active. For example, it is slowly oxidized by atmospheric oxygen already at room temperature and glows (pale green glow) – it is this property of phosphorus that helped Brand enrich himself.