Phosphorus: An element of the devil?

online lecture by Eva-Marie Hey-Hawkins on April 14, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Moderator: Hans Günther Schmalz

Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 as the 13th element by the German alchemist Hennig Brand in Hamburg. It is extracted from phosphate rocks. Phosphorus is essential for life. Recovering phosphorus from wastewater and sewage sludge is indispensable for this vital element because the resource is finite. Phosphorus also has a dark side. It was used in incendiary bombs and Molotov cocktails during wartime, and there are also known cases of murder by white phosphorus poisoning. For this reason, phosphorus is sometimes referred to as the "devil's element." The chemistry of phosphorus is one of the most fascinating areas of inorganic and organic chemistry. It encompasses an enormous number of classes of compounds.

Zoom link for the lecture: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89184630739?pwd=DMrOdJTYHrl9oNcqbyjnBhDlg44Fv7.1
Passcode: 584026 Meeting ID: 891 8463 0739