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Phosphorus burns carry an increased risk of mortality due to the absorption of phosphorus into the body through the burned area with prolonged contact, which can result in liver, heart and kidney damage, and in some cases multiple organ failure. [79] White phosphorus particles continue to burn until completely consumed or starved of oxygen.
Phosphorus is a member of the pnictogens, together with nitrogen, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and moscovium, and consequently shares properties with them. Phosphorus is an element essential to sustaining life largely through phosphates, compounds containing the phosphate ion, PO 4 3−.
People exposed to white phosphorus can suffer severe and sometimes deadly bone-deep burns. It can cause organs to shut down, and burns on just 10% of the body can be fatal, HRW said.
The creation of sparks from metals is based on the pyrophoricity of small metal particles, and pyrophoric alloys are made for this purpose. [2] Practical applications include the sparking mechanisms in lighters and various toys, using ferrocerium; starting fires without matches, using a firesteel; the flintlock mechanism in firearms; and spark testing ferrous metals.
A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ionizing radiation (such as sunburn, caused by ultraviolet radiation). [5] [9] Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire. [10] Burns occur mainly in the home or the workplace.
It can cause “excruciating burns and lifelong suffering,” a Human Rights Watch spokesperson said. What is white phosphorus — and why is it so controversial? Israel accused of using it in Gaza
White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, or simply tetraphosphorus (P 4) is an allotrope of phosphorus. It is a translucent waxy solid that quickly yellows in light (due to its photochemical conversion into red phosphorus ), [ 2 ] and impure white phosphorus is for this reason called yellow phosphorus.
A thermal burn is a type of burn resulting from making contact with heated objects, such as boiling water, steam, hot cooking oil, fire, and hot objects. Scalds are the most common type of thermal burn suffered by children, but for adults thermal burns are most commonly caused by fire. [ 2 ]