About
The character 磷 incorporates the radical 石, denoting its mineral nature, and the component 粦, which historically conveyed associations with flickering or phosphorescent light. In early Chinese usage, 磷 referred to phenomena such as the faint glow observed in certain conditions, often likened to will-o'-the-wisp. By the late imperial era, with the assimilation of modern chemical knowledge, the term was specifically applied to name the element phosphorus, a substance isolated from minerals and known for its luminescent properties. This semantic shift narrowed its reference from a broad luminous effect to a precise chemical entity, while its structural form, consistent in traditional usage, continues to reflect this duality through its components.
Example Sentences Hide
磷是一种化学元素。
火柴头含有磷。
磷肥能促进植物生长。
磷酸常用于制造饮料。
水体中磷过量会导致藻类泛滥。
工业上从磷矿石中提取磷。
磷化氢是一种有毒的气体。
科学家正在研究如何回收污水中的磷。