{"id":33164,"date":"2019-10-31T21:51:06","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T18:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/o-zhyoltom-fosfore-i-panicheskoj-prirode-cheloveka\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T21:51:06","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T18:51:06","slug":"o-zhyoltom-fosfore-i-panicheskoj-prirode-cheloveka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/o-zhyoltom-fosfore-i-panicheskoj-prirode-cheloveka","title":{"rendered":"About yellow phosphorus and the panicked nature of humans","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"About
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\nHello, %username%.<\/p>\n

As promised\u2014here's an article about yellow phosphorus and how it intensely burned near Lviv in Ukraine quite recently.<\/p>\n

Yes, I know\u2014Google provides a lot of information about this incident. Unfortunately, most of what it returns is false, or as witnesses say, untruth.<\/p>\n

Let's sort this out!
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\nWell, first\u2014let's talk about the technical details, which, by the way, are very important!<\/p>\n

As the dull Wikipedia explains, phosphorus is one of the abundant elements in the Earth's crust: its content is 0.08\u20140.09% of its mass. It does not occur in a free state due to its high chemical reactivity. It forms about 190 minerals, the most important of which are apatite Ca5(PO4)3 (F,Cl,OH), phosphorite Ca3(PO4)2, and others. Phosphorus is part of essential biological compounds\u2014phospholipids. It is found in animal tissues, is a component of proteins and other vital organic compounds (ATP, DNA), and is an element of life. Remember this, %username%, and let's move on.<\/p>\n

Phosphorus in pure form can be white, red, black, and metallic. These are called allotropic modifications\u2014in this regard, the weaker sex is quite knowledgeable since they can differentiate between diamond and graphite by touch\u2014these are also allotropic modifications, just for carbon. Essentially, phosphorus is the same.<\/p>\n

The hero of our story\u2014yellow phosphorus\u2014is actually unrefined white phosphorus. Often, \"unrefined\" means the presence of red phosphorus, rather than some dreadful foreign substances.<\/p>\n

Yellow phosphorus (as well as white) is truly a nightmare: a highly toxic (maximum allowable concentration in atmospheric air is 0.0005 mg\/m\u00b3), flammable crystalline substance ranging from light yellow to dark brown. Its specific weight is 1.83 g\/cm\u00b3, it melts at +43.1 \u00b0C, and boils at +280 \u00b0C. It does not dissolve in water, oxidizes easily in air, and spontaneously ignites. It burns with a dazzling bright green flame releasing thick white smoke\u2014tiny particles of tetraphosphorus decoxide P4O10. This is again boring Wikipedia, but I ask you, %username%\u2014remember this information as well.<\/p>\n

Now, let's dig deeper.<\/p>\n

Well, firstly, despite the toxicity of phosphorus, it's very difficult to get poisoned by it for a very simple reason: it self-ignites in the air. Very quickly. And it burns, as mentioned, with a bright blue-green flame. Practically, it looks like this: you put a piece on the table \u2014 and it slowly starts to smoke. Then faster. Then even more. And then it ignites and burns. The time to ignition depends on the size of the piece: the smaller it is, the faster it ignites. So I find it hard to imagine fine dust of yellow phosphorus in the air \u2014 it would just catch fire.<\/p>\n

Although, you might argue, it is reported that the lethal dose of yellow phosphorus for a human is 0.05-0.15 grams, it dissolves well in body fluids, and when ingested, it is quickly absorbed (by the way, red phosphorus is insoluble and therefore relatively less toxic). Acute poisoning occurs when inhaling vapors of yellow phosphorus and\/or when they enter the gastrointestinal tract. Poisoning is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, beautifully glowing vomit in the dark that emits a garlic smell, and diarrhea. Another symptom of acute yellow phosphorus poisoning is heart failure.<\/p>\n

Reading this, I somehow recalled phosphorus poisoning (the symptoms are quite similar) and seriously pondered \u2014 but no longer about the existence of yellow phosphorus vapors, but about the adequacy of an individual who saw a smoking, glowing in the dark piece of something unknown \u2014 and immediately ate it. Well, that's that.<\/p>\n

By the way, to obtain a solution of phosphorus in water at 3 mg\/l \u2014 which is a saturated solution, as it doesn't dissolve more \u2014 you need to shake a piece of phosphorus in water for a week. Well, I didn't make this up, that's what GOST 32459-2013 says \u2014 and that's not just random stuff from the internet!<\/p>\n

In general, in my opinion, the toxicity of phosphorus is greatly exaggerated. But it has other nuances. More about that below.<\/p>\n

Phosphorus burns, as specialists who work with it like to say, by the drill rule: that is, the burning piece digs into the surface on which it burns. Into the table. Into the metal. Into the shoe. Into the hand. The reason is simple: the combustion product \u2014 phosphorus oxide \u2014 is essentially an acidic oxide that immediately attracts water, forming phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid, although not as lovely as sulfuric or hydrofluoric, can be just as damaging \u2014 and that's why it eats through everything. By the way, it is sometimes added to toilet bowl cleaners. This lovely combination of high-temperature combustion (up to 1300 \u00b0C) and hot acid gives additional holes to your table, and if you're unlucky \u2014 to your body. And yes, %username% \u2014 it is Very Painful.<\/p>\n

I have asserted many times and will continue to assert that there is no greater enemy to man than himself: of course, the properties of yellow phosphorus have not gone unnoticed \u2014 and kind people have invented adding it to incendiary munitions, as it's very convenient when something suddenly ignites in the air! <\/p>\n

It looks very beautiful \u2014 you can admire it.<\/b>\"About
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But people after such attacks don't look very good \u2014 so it's better not to look.<\/b>\"About
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\nSince all of this is very charming, the development, testing, transportation, trade, use, and disposal of phosphorus munitions are carried out considering a number of international agreements and treaties, including:<\/p>\n