P
Phosphorus Symbol (P)
Phosphorus is element 15 of the periodic table. Copy its symbol P and see its atomic weight, electron configuration and common compounds.
What does P mean?
P is the chemical symbol for phosphorus, element number 15 in the periodic table. Phosphorus is a reactive nonmetal in group 15, period 3. It is an essential element in DNA, ATP and bones, and a major fertiliser ingredient.
Codes and properties
| Chemical symbol | P |
|---|---|
| Atomic number (Z) | 15 |
| Standard atomic weight | 30.974 |
| Group / period | 15 / 3 |
| Element category | reactive nonmetal |
| Electron configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³ |
| Common compounds | H₃PO₄, P₄O₁₀, Ca₃(PO₄)₂ |
How to type P
- Plain text: type
P— element symbols are ordinary Latin letters, with the first letter capitalised. - Subscripts in formulas: use Unicode subscript digits (₀₁₂₃₄₅₆₇₈₉) for formulas such as H₃PO₄ — copy them from the chemistry keyboard.
- LaTeX: write
\mathrm{P}in math mode, or use the mhchem package:\ce{P}. - HTML:
P; for subscripts use<sub>, e.g.H<sub>2</sub>O.
Frequently asked questions
What is the chemical symbol for phosphorus?
The chemical symbol for phosphorus is P.
What is the atomic number of phosphorus?
Phosphorus has atomic number 15, meaning each atom has 15 protons.
What is the electron configuration of phosphorus?
The ground-state electron configuration of phosphorus is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³.