Phosphorus was accidentally discovered by a German alchemist, Hennig Brand in 1669, when he was trying to distill vats of urine to create the philosopher's stone. Phosphorus is essential for life and plays an important role in many modern applications, such as fertilizers.
However, supplies of phosphate rock are limited, and humans are using these resources at an unsustainable rate. There is a risk of a shortage within a few decades. But can we really "run out" of phosphorus? Technically, as matter is conserved in all reactions, phosphorus would not "run out" but be converted to less useful forms as it undergoes chemical and physical transformations. For example, soluble phosphates from fertilizers could dissolve and be diluted as it runs into rivers and lakes. Recovering them will be extremely costly and difficult.
Thus, besides moderating our consumption, there is also a need to develop innovative methods to recycle phosphorus before it becomes highly diluted in our water systems.
Read more on: https://phys.org/news/2019-01-phosphorus-years-discovery-vital-element.html
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