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Glite Dictionary
phosphorous

phosphorous

8.8
Containing a substance used as plant food and found in bones
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɑs.fər.əs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fosforoso
  • The water sample was tested for phosphorous contamination.

Examples

  • A phosphorous compound is used as a reagent in the laboratory.

  • Phosphorous fertilizers are applied to improve plant growth.

  • The phosphorous compounds are essential for plant growth.

  • Many fertilizers contain phosphorous elements.

  • The fertilizer contains a phosphorous compound that promotes plant growth.

  • Certain types of minerals can be classified as phosphorous when they contain phosphorus in a lower oxidation state.

  • The researchers studied the phosphorous nature of various compounds to understand their reactivity.

Synonyms

phosphatic
vsphosphorous
  • Specialized
7.4

Containing phosphorus, the chemical often used in fertilizers

emphasizes compounds with the element in a lower oxidation state such as +3

Compounds

phosphorous acid
  • Specialized
8.0

A clear or yellow acid that chemists use to make other chemicals and to remove oxygen from them

How Oxidized

phosphoric
  • Specialized
1 8.0
phosphorous
  • Specialized
8.8
hypophosphorous acid
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

phosphorous positive

Morphology

phosphorous = phosphor (semi-transparent) = phosphor + ous

The suffix '-ous' indicates a characteristic of the root 'phosphor', but the specific chemical context may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Phosphorous comes from the Greek phosphoros, which means 'light-bringing' and from phos meaning 'light'. The element phosphorus was named because it can glow, so phosphorous describes something that has or is made with that light‑bringing element.