Hennig Brand

Hennig Brand was a German scientist in the 17th century who is credited with discovering phosphorus around 1669. He aimed to find gold and began experimenting with boilings of urine, which contains small amounts of phosphorus. Through a series of complex steps involving heating and chemical reactions, he isolated an element that glowed in the dark—phosphorus. This discovery was significant because it was the first element to be artificially produced, marking an important milestone in chemistry and our understanding of materials.