Phosphorus

Location:  Group 15, Period 3
Atomic Weight:  30.97376
Coordination Number:  6
Chemical Form in Solution:  OP(OH)₂(O)^1-

Storage & Handling:  Keep tightly sealed when not in use. Store and use at 20 ± 4°C. Do not pipet from container. Do not return portions removed for pipetting to container.

Chemical Compatibility:  Soluble in HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and HF aqueous matrices water and NH₄OH. Stable with all metals and inorganic anions at low to moderate ppm levels under acidic conditions; precipitates with several metals occur in neutral media at higher concentrations.

Stability:  2-100 ppb levels - stability unknown - in 1% HNO₃ / LDPE container. 1-10,000 ppm solutions chemically stable for years in 0-1% HNO₃ / LDPE container.

P Containing Samples (Preparation & Solution):  Metal (never found free in nature); Oxides (water soluble); Ores (naturally occurring only as the phosphate, except for a few rare minerals found in meteorites - Na₂CO₃ fusion in Pt⁰); Organic Matrices (dry ash mixed with Na₂CO₃ in Pt⁰ at 450°C then increase heat to 1000°C to fuse; or, perform a H₂SO₄ / H₂O₂ acid digestion).