Phosphorus

Phosphorus has one of the wildest discovery stories in chemistry. In 1669, Hennig Brand, a German alchemist searching for the legendary Philosopher's Stone, decided to experiment with — wait for it — buckets of urine. After boiling and distilling an enormous amount, he ended up with a waxy substance that glowed in the dark. He had discovered phosphorus, from the Greek for 'light-bearer.'

Phosphorus comes in several forms: white phosphorus glows and is extremely flammable (and toxic), while red phosphorus is much safer and is used on the striking strip of matchboxes. Phosphorus is essential for life — it is a key component of DNA, bones, and teeth. Fertilizers contain phosphorus to help crops grow.

Phosphorus's symbol 'P' is a powerful single-letter element in Spellement. Starting words like 'play,' 'power,' and 'puzzle,' it gives spellers a common consonant to work with. Single-letter symbols are the most flexible building blocks in element-based spelling.