Learn more >>, Using stories from science’s past to understand our world. Phosphorus compounds are vital for life. One night in 1669 German physician Hennig Brandt attempted to create the philosophers’ stone. (Of course, other elements such as gold and silver were already known – but they had no named discoverer.) The 1660s had been a lucky time for Brandt; the 1760s were fortunate for Wright. It’s our 200th episode! Corrections? German alchemist Hennig Brand discovered phosphorous in 1669 when he strongly heated the residue left by the evaporation of urine. Until 1737, the method of phosphorus preparation was kept secret. To celebrate we pieced together some of the funniest, grossest, and most surprising moments in Distillations history. 1630-92). In essence, Wright continued the tradition of Schalken and van Bentum by painting the effects of light. News of Brandt's discovery must have spread rapidly, and although he tried to keep i… He was fond of placing […] The glowing, waxy substance had never been seen before. This is the story of how one of the biggest puzzles science has ever faced, was helped on its way by a pioneering experiment using 50 buckets of urine. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hennig-Brand, Brand, Hennig - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). It is also a vitally important plant nutrient. The Alchymist (1775) by engraver William Pether, after the 1771 painting by Joseph Wright of Derby. In the waning days of World War II, a psychiatrist raced across Germany to uncover the harrowing abuses of Nazi doctors. Prints were most people’s only access to art, and printmakers had just recently perfected an entirely new engraving technique called mezzotint. Phosphorus was discovered by boiling urine. He called it noxious air or fixed air. Artist Joseph Wright of Derby immortalized this moment a century later in his painting The Alchymist. Brandt’s was an era that still saw a world made up of four elements: fire, air, water, and earth. Phosphorus deficiency, condition in which phosphorus is insufficient or is not utilized properly. The name Phosphorus in Ancient Greece was the name for the planet Venus and is derived from the Greek words (φῶς = light, φέρω = carry), which roughly translates as light-bringer or light carrier. Interpretation of this Drawing (by John Read) One of the most famous alchemical paintings of the eighteenth century is “The Discovery of Phosphorus” by the English painter, Joseph Wright (1734-1797), of Derby, England. Whatever his categories, Brandt’s phosphorus was a spectacular sight. The Science History Institute’s building is currently closed to the public. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Back in the mid-seventeenth century, people’s general knowledge of chemistry was not as advanced as it is today, and it may seem strange how Brand was able to discover the mysterious element. Brandt’s name wasn’t prominent in the earliest accounts of the discovery, but Macquer gave him formal credit in his textbook, writing that “the phosphorus here described was first discovered by a citizen of Hamburgh named Brandt, who worked upon urine in search of the Philosopher’s stone.” Macquer understood such transformations to be impossible, but in his unusually sympathetic interpretation he noted that such chemical manipulations “proved the occasion of several curious discoveries.” Wright, who knew Macquer’s book, was inspired by the latter’s understanding that misguided experiments could lead to real discoveries. Within 100 years phosphorus was appearing in chemistry textbooks, such as P. J. Macquer’s popular Elements of Theoretical and Practical Chemistry. Phosphorus Pentafluoride, PF5. Some other important methods to obtain red phosphorus are discussed in this subsection. In his era an artist’s renown depended on high-quality engravings of his paintings. 2. These engravings are among the very finest of the 18th century. The way he discovered phosphorus is quite disgusting! Phosphorus is in our bones, DNA, tissues, and blood. Brandt called it phosphorus, a Latin term for things that give off light. Red phosphorus was first discovered when the Anton von Schrotter, an Austrian chemist, heated white phosphorus to 300oC. Although Brand kept his process a secret, phosphorus was discovered independently in 1680 by an English chemist, Robert Boyle. Most phosphorus that we use today is mined from the earth. Phosphorus, a highly reactive element, emits a faint glow in the presence of oxygen, a response known as chemiluminescence. White phosphorus, the form that can burn skin on … Who Discovered Nitrogen Nitrogen was discovered by David Rutherford in 1772. Phosphorus was first made by Hennig Brandt at Hamburg in 1669 when he evaporated urine and heated the residue until it was red hot, whereupon phosphorus vapour distilled which he collected by condensing it in water. Wicked creatures and a defiant chemist make their mark on the periodic table. The elemental form was discovered around 1669 by the German alchemist Hennig Brandt. In the 1660's, German alchemist Hennig Brand thought he knew the secret to making … The Alchemist Who Discovered Phosphorus in Pee. It was also the first element discovered since ancient times. Afterwards, many scholars conducted a lot of research on the preparation method of phosphorus, but their research remained on the basis of laboratory scale. An ancient work on toxicology gets a 16th-century makeover from a master of fonts. He then maintained the mixture at the highest temperature his furnace could reach. However, correspondence by his second wife Margaretha states that he was of high social standing. The case is similar to the discovery of Uranus by William Herschel in 1781. Updates? A military officer and self-styled physician, Brand has often received the undeserved title “last of the alchemists” because of his continual search for the philosopher’s stone, which reputedly could change base metals into gold. NOW 50% OFF! to about the end of the 16th century. This popular story was printed and re-printed in chemical histories during Wright's lifetime. Phosphorus: Phosphorus normally comes in two different forms with very different uses. In 1669, while trying to make the philosopher's stone Hennig Brandt discovered phosphorus. The chemical composition of an ash depends on that of the substance burned. And like the fascinated colleagues to whom he showed his new compound, Brandt assumed it was composed of these elements. Brandt discovered phosphorus due to another characteristic it has. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Phosphorus was first discovered in 1669 by German physician Hennig Brand (ca. Brand is somewhat famous in chemistry. In any case he held a post as a junior army officer during the Thirty Years' War and his first wife's dowry was substantial, allowing him to pursue alchemy on leaving the army. When Hennig Brand discovered phosphorus, he became the first person in history to discover an element. Within 50 years of its discovery phosphorus was being produced and sold to apothecaries, natural philosophers, and showmen, who made the element the centerpiece of demonstrations at princely courts and scientific societies. What he … This innovation made it possible for printers to reproduce painterly contrasts from bright whites to rich velvety blacks. Gore-Tex changed the way Americans spend time outdoors. The detection of phosphorus (P +) ions in solid is contained in minerals or metallic phosphorus. In 1669, phosphorous was discovered by German alchemist Henning Brand. Alchemy was a kind of pre-science that existed from about 500 B.C. BY Bess Lovejoy. Some sources describe his origins as humble and indicate that he had been an apprentice glassmaker as a young man. The discovered phosphorus, or P, is the last one of the CHNOPS-elements. The Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt) of Hamburg is the second smallest of the 16 Länder of Germany, with a territory of only 292 square miles (755…, Physical science, the systematic study of the inorganic world, as distinct from the study of the organic world, which is the province of biological science. Hennig Brand, (flourished 1670, Hamburg [Germany]), German chemist who, through his discovery of phosphorus, became the first known discoverer of an element. boiling down about 1,200 gallons of urine. The discovery of phosphorus was made when an alchemist, Hennig Brand, tried to make gold from urine. Glowing phosphorous vapor is emitted and then condenses under water. After he discovered Phosphorus, Brand named it ‘cold fire’. This elusive goal had been pursued by alchemists for centuries for good reason: it could transform base metals into gold. Phosphorus was discovered c.1674 by Hennig Brand of Hamburg, an alchemist, who prepared it from urine. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. William Pether, a leading English engraver, produced spectacularly subtle and nuanced renderings of The Alchymist (painted by Wright in 1771), as well as a dazzling mezzotint of Wright’s Orrery (1766), also in the Science History Institute collection. Phosphoric acid was discovered in 1770 by K. W. Scheele and J. G. Gahn in bone ash (see ashash, in chemistry, solid residue of combustion. This is called chemiluminescence. Physical science is ordinarily thought of as consisting of four broad areas: astronomy, physics, chemistry, and the Earth sciences. Each of…. In what is perhaps the most disgusting method of discovering an element, phosphorus was first isolated in 1669 by Hennig Brand, a German physician and alchemist, by boiling, filtering and otherwise processing as many as 60 buckets of urine. Wright's painting thus may represent the discovery of phosphorus attributed to the Hamburg alchemist Hennig Brandt in 1669. Explanation: 5) Hennig Brand was a German merchant, he is the discoverer of the chemical element phosphorus.Phosphorus was first produced by Hennig Brandt in Hamburg, Germany in 1669. When he evaporates the urine and heats the residue until it gets hot. (In Greek mythology and tradition, Augerinus (Αυγερινός = morning star, still in use today), Hesperus or Hesperinus (΄Εσπερος or Εσπερινός or Αποσπερίτης = evening star, still in use today) and Eosphorus (Εωσφόρος = dawnbearer, not in use for the planet after Christianity) are close homologues, and also associated with Phosphorus can also be highly poisonous and combustible (white phosphorus is used in many destructive weapons, such as napalm). 2. Its discovery dates back in the year of 1669 by the German alchemist Hennig Brand. Dillon Knight CHM 152-01 RCC Spring Semester 2016 04/19/16 Phosphorus 32 Posseses 17 neutrons and 15 protons Discovered in 1930's by Ernest Lawrence, Enrico Fermi, and George de Hevesy Phosphorus was discovered synthetically by combining carbon disulfide with neutrons Phosphorus For centuries the genre of history painting had featured saints, military leaders, and royalty; never had such artwork featured a specific physician, alchemist, or philosopher at work. The reason was quite obvious. At about this time Wright was part of an intellectually engaged circle of physicians, scientists, and industrialists in the English Midlands. Henning Brand was experimenting with urine to try and create the ‘philosopher’s stone’. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Transcript. An international study led from the University of Turku discovered phosphorus and fluorine in solid dust particles collected from a comet. Other planets had been known for thousands of years, but Herschel was the first person to see and identify Uranus as a new planet. Wright’s decision to paint an action portrait of a pioneering chemist was unprecedented. This compound was discovered by Thorpe, who prepared it by the reaction between AsF 3 and PCl 5:— 5AsF 3 + 3PCl 5 = 3PF 5 + 5AsCl 3 The same method and precautions may be adopted as already described for the trifluoride. It is the country’s largest port and commercial centre. 1. Question: Who was phosphorus discovered by? Within another 50 years the element was making its way into matches, fertilizer, and bombs, once mineral phosphates had replaced urine as the best source material. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Hamburg, city and Land (state), located on the Elbe River in northern Germany. The finding indicates that all the most important elements necessary for life may have been delivered to the Earth by comets. Brandt had spent most of that day in his laboratory, heating a mixture of sand and charcoal with a tar-like substance produced by boiling down about 1,200 gallons of urine over two weeks. A study led by researchers from the University of Turku in Finland has discovered phosphorus and fluorine in solid dust particles that were collected from a … (A little more than a hundred years later Antoine Lavoisier replaced this worldview with another, of elements as simple substances that could not be further decomposed.) Phosphorus is a chemical element. By the late 18 th century, most chemists knew of this fraction of air (nitrogen with some other gases) that did not combust. Its atomic number is 15 and it is represented by symbol P. It is a mineral element essential for living organisms. He observed the striking blue-green light that is emitted by phosphorus vapour when it comes in contact with air. Omissions? Phosphorus was discovered by accident In 1669, the German businessman Henning Brand, first discovered phosphorus. In some forms, phosphorus can glow! The elemental discovery of phosphorus. On the other hand, the discovery of phosphorus opened up a dazzling new chapter in what became modern chemistry. Brandt’s name wasn’t prominent in the earliest accounts of the discovery, but Macquer gave him formal credit in his textbook, writing that “the phosphorus here described was first discovered by a citizen of Hamburgh named Brandt, who worked upon urine in search of the Philosopher’s stone.”. Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand, who prepared it from urine. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He is sometimes called the last of the alchemists. Thankfully, phosphorus is now … Not less than 50-60 buckets per experiment in fact, each of which required more than a fortnight to complete. A military officer and self-styled physician, Brand has often received the undeserved title “last of the alchemists” because of his continual search for the philosopher’s stone, which reputedly could change base metals into gold. Earlier origins are a mystery, as phosphorus may have been discovered in ancient Rome, then its secret lost through the ages (Emsley, 2000). Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle! Their conversations and chemical experiments prompted Wright to re-create Brandt’s historic moment of scientific discovery. What is most interesting about phosphorus is how it was discovered. Phosphorus has been a defining element throughout modern human history. Hennig Brand, (flourished 1670, Hamburg [Germany]), German chemist who, through his discovery of phosphorus, became the first known discoverer of an element. The circumstances of Brand's birth are unknown but he was born in 1630 and died around 1692 or 1710. It’s something that most people wouldn’t even think of trying to do, but back in the mid seventeenth century peoples general knowledge of chemistry was not as advanced as it is today. The philosopher’s stone was something capable of … is the author of Picturing Medical Progress from Pasteur to Polio. About 1669 he isolated from urine a white, waxy material and named it phosphorus (“light bearer”), because it glowed in the dark. Did you know that phosphorus was discovered from ... urine? It dripped from his retort in waxy, yellow drops which astonished him by catching fire when warmed slightly, and which glowed in the dark. History. In the year 1669, it was first discovered by German merchant and alchemist Henning Brand. Discovery of Phosphorus. The discovery of P indicates cometary delivery as a potential source of these elements to the young Earth. Elements and Periodic Table History. In the seventeenth century alchemists (see alchemy) used many materials in their search for the "philosopher's stone," a supposedly magical substance that would turn base metals into gold. History. An engraving in the Science History Institute’s collections hints at the ways art and science were intertwined in the Age of Enlightenment. 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