Phosphorus the old school way

[jrayj]

Okay guys I know there are many threads on elemental phosphorus extraction already but... Does anybody know if the method outlined here http://www.ehow.com/how_4524329_make-phosphorus.html would work? And if so what in the world does ginger contribute to the reaction:confused:... Oh and I *might* attempt this so any other safety advice would be appreciated... Thanks in Advance!

[John Cuthber]

I'm pretty sure that, at the temperatures needed to reduce phosphates to phosphorus, the glass would melt. Also phosphoric acid is known to atack glass at high temperatures I think this mixture might do the same.

 

The cinnamon might help to cover the smell of rotted urine.

 

It makes a lot more sense to look at the threads that already cover this sort of thing rather than starting a new one.

Would someone like to close this thread?

[hermanntrude]

Just a note before the thread is closed. The cinnamon wasn't necessary for the synthesis, BUT it is the reason it glowed. The oil of cinnamon, combined with white phosphorus is a strong phosphorescent mixture. The guy who did this first must have had trouble believing his own eyes. Holy crap, this stuff glows in the dark! I've made the sun!