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White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, or simply tetraphosphorus (P 4) is an allotrope of phosphorus. It is a translucent waxy solid that quickly yellows in light (due to its photochemical conversion into red phosphorus ), [ 2 ] and impure white phosphorus is for this reason called yellow phosphorus.
White phosphorus is reduced by sodium-potassium alloy: [6] P 4 + 12 Na → 4 Na 3 P. Phosphorus reacts with sodium in an autoclave at 150 °C for 5 hours to produce Na 3 P. [7] Alternatively the reaction can be conducted at normal pressures but using a temperatures gradient to generate nonvolatile Na x P phases (x < 3) that then react further ...
The acid is prepared industrially via a two step process: Firstly, elemental white phosphorus reacts with alkali and alkaline earth hydroxides to give an aqueous solution of hypophosphites: P 4 + 4 OH − + 4 H 2 O → 4 H 2 PO − 2 + 2 H 2. Any phosphites produced in this step can be selectively precipitated out by treatment with calcium salts.
One exception is phosphorus, for which the most stable form at 1 bar is black phosphorus, but white phosphorus is chosen as the standard reference state for zero enthalpy of formation. [2] For example, the standard enthalpy of formation of carbon dioxide is the enthalpy of the following reaction under the above conditions:
The general formula of a phosphoric acid is H n−2x+2 P n O 3n−x+1, where n is the number of phosphorus atoms and x is the number of fundamental cycles in the molecule's structure; that is, the minimum number of bonds that would have to be broken to eliminate all cycles.
White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus or simply tetraphosphorus (P 4) exists as molecules of four phosphorus atoms in a tetrahedral structure, joined by six phosphorus—phosphorus single bonds. [1] The free P 4 molecule in the gas phase has a P-P bond length of r g = 2.1994(3) Å as was determined by gas electron diffraction . [ 2 ]
People exposed to white phosphorus can suffer severe and sometimes deadly bone-deep burns. It can cause organs to shut down, and burns on just 10% of the body can be fatal, HRW said.
Hypophosphoric acid can be prepared by the reaction of red phosphorus with sodium chlorite at room temperature. [2]2 P + 2 NaClO 2 + 2 H 2 O → Na 2 H 2 P 2 O 6 + 2 HCl. A mixture of hypophosphoric acid, phosphorous acid (H 3 PO 3) and phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4) is produced when white phosphorus oxidises in air when partially immersed in water.