What is the importance of Phosphorus to human body?
Phosphorus is an important constituent in every body tissue. The total amount constitutes about one per cent of the body weight.
Phosphorus is an important constituent in every body tissue. The total amount constitutes about one per cent of the body weight.
Phosphorus constitutes an important constituent in every body tissue next to calcium. In bones, the proportion of calcium to phosphorus is about 2:1, but in body fluids and soft tissues, the proportion of phosphorus is much higher than that of calcium.
Some of the most important uses of Phosphorus are: 1. Red phosphorus is chiefly used on making matches. 2. White phosphorus and zinc phosphate are mainly used as a poison for rats. 3. Phosphorus is used in making phosphor bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin containing phosphorus.
Calcium and phosphorus make strong bones and teeth and vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Therefore, deficiency of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in the body leads to poor bone formation. In growing children and nursing mothers, the chances of the deficiency of calcium and phosphorus are more as their requirement of these minerals is more.