Original and other elements 29/?: Phosphorus
Literature is like phosphorus: it shines with its maximum brilliance at the moment when it attempts to die. (Roland Barthes)
Phosphorus is an actual element - a mineral, atomic number 15, and part of the ‘nitrogen family’ of Group 15, along with nitogen, arsenic, antimony and bismuth. It’s never mentioned or seen in the series.
First isolated in 1669, it can be found in the earth’s crust, is known to be present in some stars, and in human biology (urine, bone ash etc). It emits a faint glow on exposure to oxygen, hence the name which means “light-bearer” in Greek - or Lucifer, in Latin, and is also known as “the Devil’s element” due to its tendency to spontaneously combust in air. It is found in two main forms, white and red. Red is the more stable and safer. (It can also be found as black and violet phosphorus.)
It has been used in making matches since 1830, first with the more dangerous white phosphorus (the source of the infamous “phossy jaw” that affected match workers in the late 19th C), and then with the safer red. It is also used in incendiaries by the military.
Phosphorus is vital to human life and found in foods such as milk, meat, and soya. It’s also used as a fertiliser, in detergents, nerve agents, pesticides, food additives, to add acidity to soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, in baking powder, sodium lamps, and toothpaste.
A fascinating element, in short, and one that would be interesting to play around with in fic. Who’s up for the challenge?
For @snickety-lemons who came up with the idea for this element and casting; and also @pedanther who backed them up on it with helpful info. <3
