-phosphors-

a. [ Pref. hypo- + phosphoric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, or containing, phosphorus in a lower state of oxidation than in phosphoric compounds; as, hypophosphoric acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hypophosphoric acid (Chem.), an acid, P2H4O6, produced by the slow oxidation of moist phosphorus, and isolated only as a solution in water. It is regarded as a condensation product of one molecule of phosphoric acid with one of phosphorous acid, by partial dehydration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + phosphorous. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, phosphorus in a lower state of oxidation than in phosphoric compounds; as, hypophosphorous acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hypophosphorous acid (Chem.) , an acid, H3PO2, whose salts are produced by the action of barium hygrate on phosphorus. It may be obtained from its water solution, by exaporation and freezing, as a white crystalline substance. It is a powerful reducing agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Litho- + phosphor. ] A stone that becomes phosphoric by heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to lithophosphor; becoming phosphoric by heat. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. meta- + phosphoric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a monobasic acid, HPO3, analogous to nitric acid, and, by heating phosphoric acid, obtained as a crystalline substance, commonly called glacial phosphoric acid. Compare the tribasic orthophosphoric acid. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Pref. para- + phosphoric. ] (Chem.) Pyrophosphoric. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. phosphor. See Phosphorus. ] 1. Phosphorus. [ Obs. ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; Lucifer. [ Poetic and Rare ] Pope. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A phosphorescent substance. [ archaic ] [ PJC ]

4. A substance capable of exhibiting luminescence. This term is now most commonly used to refer to substances used in fluorescent lights, image intensifiers, or cathode-ray tubes (CRT's), which luminesce when excited by ultraviolet radiation or an electron beam. In color CRT's, three different phosphors, each giving different colors when excited, are used. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Phosphorated p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorating. ] (Chem.) To impregnate, or combine, with phosphorus or its compounds; as, phosphorated oil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Phosphor + bronze. ] (Metal.) A variety of bronze possessing great hardness, elasticity, and toughness, obtained by melting copper with tin phosphide. It contains one or two per cent of phosphorus and from five to fifteen per cent of tin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Phosphorescent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Phosphoresced p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorescing ] 1. To shine as phosphorus; to be phosphorescent; to emit a phosphoric light. Generally, to emit light at temperatures too low to excite incandescent radiation. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

2. To emit light after a source of illumination has been removed; to exhibit phosphorescence. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. phosphorescence. ] 1. The quality or state of being phosphorescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The process of phosphorescing, especially that of emitting light after a source of excitation has been removed. This contrasts with the process of fluorescence, in which a substance emits light of a lower wavelength than the illuminating light, only while the illumination continues. [ PJC ]

3. Light emitted by the process of phosphorescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. phosphorescent. ] Shining with a phosphoric light; emitting phosphorescence; luminous without sensible heat. -- n. A phosphorescent substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. phosphorique. ] 1. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling, or containing, phosporus; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a higher valence as contrasted with the phosphorous compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Phosphorescent. “A phosphoric sea.” Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glacial phosphoric acid. (Chem.) (a) Metaphosphoric acid in the form of glassy semitransparent masses or sticks. (b) Pure normal phosphoric acid. --
Phosphoric acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, H3PO4, which is the most highly oxidized acid of phosphorus, and forms an important and extensive series of compounds, viz., the phosphates. --
Soluble phosphoric acid,
Insoluble phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid combined in acid salts, or in neutral or basic salts, which are respectively soluble and insoluble in water or in plant juices. --
Reverted phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid changed from acid (soluble) salts back to neutral or basic (insoluble) salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Old Chem.) Phosphoric. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A massive variety of apatite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Min.) Pertaining to phosphorite; resembling, or of the nature of, phosphorite. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To phosphorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing, or impregnated with, phosphorus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Phosphorus + -gen + -ic. ] Generating phosphorescence; as, phosphorogenic rays. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Phosphorus + -scope. ] (Physics) An apparatus for observing the phosphorescence produced in different bodies by the action of light, and for measuring its duration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. phosphoreux. ] (Chem.) Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling or containing phosphorus; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a lower valence as contrasted with phosphoric compounds; as, phosphorous acid, H3PO3. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Phosphori [ L., the morning star, Gr. fwsfo`ros, lit., light bringer; fw^s light + fe`rein to bring. ] 1. The morning star; Phosphor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) A poisonous nonmetallic element of the nitrogen group, obtained as a white, or yellowish, translucent waxy substance, having a characteristic disagreeable smell; this waxy allotropic form is also called yellow phosphorus, to distinguish it from another allotropic form, red phosphorus. It is very active chemically, must be preserved under water, and unites with oxygen even at ordinary temperatures, giving a faint glow, -- whence its name. It always occurs combined, usually in phosphates, as in the mineral apatite, in bones, etc. It is used in the composition on the tips of friction matches, and for many other purposes. It is an essential component of the genetic material of all living organisms. The molecule contains four atoms. Symbol P. Atomic weight 31.0. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Chem.) Hence, any substance which shines in the dark like phosphorus, as certain phosphorescent bodies. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bologna phosphorus (Chem.), sulphide of barium, which shines in the dark after exposure to light; -- so called because this property was discovered by a resident of Bologna. The term is sometimes applied to other compounds having similar properties. --
Metallic phosphorus (Chem.), an allotropic modification of phosphorus, obtained as a gray metallic crystalline substance, having very inert chemical properties. It is obtained by heating ordinary phosphorus in a closed vessel at a high temperature. --
Phosphorus disease (Med.), a disease common among workers in phosphorus, giving rise to necrosis of the jawbone, and other symptoms. --
Red phosphorus, or
Amorphous phosphorus (Chem.), an allotropic modification of phosphorus, obtained as a dark red powder by heating ordinary phosphorus in closed vessels. It is not poisonous, is not phosphorescent, and is only moderately active chemically. It is valuable as a chemical reagent, and is used in the composition of the friction surface on which safety matches are ignited. --
Solar phosphori (Chem.), phosphorescent substances which shine in the dark after exposure to the sunlight or other intense light. --
yellow phosphorus (Chem.), the waxy yellow allotropic form of elemental phosphorus. See also phosphorus{ 2 }. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

. A steel in which the amount of phosphorus exceeds that of carbon. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Phosphorus + -yl. ] (Chem.) The radical PO, regarded as the typical nucleus of certain compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pyro- + phosphoric. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid, H4P2O7, which is obtained as a white crystalline substance. Its salts are obtained by heating the phosphates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or designating, a hypothetical sulphacid of phosphorus, analogous to phosphoric acid, and known in its salts. [ 1913 Webster ]