Phosphorous
Allotropic Forms of Phosphorous
Phosphorous has many allotropes. Most important ones are White, Red and Black.
White Phosphorous
Physical Properties of White Phosphorous
- translucent white waxy solid
- insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide
- glows in dark (chemiluminescence)
Chemical Properties of White Phosphorous
- dissolves in boiling (ce{NaOH}) solution in an inert atmosphere to produce Phosphine (ce{PH3}) and sodium hypophosphite
- $$ce{P4 + 3NaOH + 3H2O -> PH3 + NaH2PO2} $$
- more reactive than other allotropic forms of Phosophorous under normal conditions. It is poisonous.
- Higher reactivity is due to strained P-P-P bond that is 60°. Discrete tetrahedral structure.
(ce{})
