The periodic table is very much, unlike other tabular data presentations. It has 7 rows 8 columns and about 118 cells. In the first row itself, there are only two cells. The next two rows are quite orderly. They have exactly 16 cells and 16 elements. The second row is of great interest. The row contains three major elements of life carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. The third row has one loner element Phosphorous.
Phosphorous is in the 5th column. Exactly below Nitrogen. Chemically speaking it is quite similar to Nitrogen. However one is gas which does not burn easily. Whereas the other (phosphorous) is a solid and can get ignited by the slightest friction. So what is common in Nitrogen and Phosphorous?
Both have 5 electrons in their last orbit. Which means 3 short to complete it or 5 more to complete it. If we talk in a common language, it has 3 receiving arms and 5 lending arms. It appears that the phosphorous with 5 lending arms plays a vital row in life chemistry.
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