Method for Detection of Elements - Phosphorus
Phosphorus is detected through fusing the organic compound along with sodium peroxide while phosphorus is converted into sodium phosphate. 2P + 5Na2O2→2Na3PO4 +2Na2O. The fused mass is extracted with H2O, boiled with conc. HNO3 and after that ammonium molybdate is included. Presence of yellow ppt. or colouration because of the formation of ammonium phosphomolybdate points out the presence of phosphorus.