Here is a brief description of phosphorus. It is an essential component of living systems and is found in nervous tissue, bones and cell protoplasm. White phosphorus has two modifications.
Ordinary phosphorus is a waxy white solid.
When pure, it is colourless and transparent. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in carbon disulphide. This form does not ignite spontaneously and it is a little less dangerous than white phosphorus. Here is a brief summary of the isolation of phosphorus. Originally, phosphorus was extracted from urine.