Differentiate between white phosphorous and red phosphorous.

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Solution

Parameters
White phosphorous
Red phosphorous
i) State White Phosphorous is soft (waxy) solid. Red Phosphorous is Brittle powder.
ii) Colour White Phosphorous initially white in colour, gradually changes its colour into yellow. Red Phosphorous dark red colour.
iii) Odour White Phosphorous has a garlic smell. Red Phosphorous is Odourless.
iv) Density White Phosphorous has density 1.82 g/cm³ Red Phosphorous has density 2.1 g/cm³
v) Melting points(M.P) White Phosphorous has 317 K M.P --------
vi) Boiling points(B.P) White Phosphorous has 553.5 K B.P Red Phosphorous sublimes at 565 K
vii) Physiological nature white Phosphorous is poisonous Red Phosphorous is non-poisonous.
viii) Atomicity white Phosphorous has four atomicity Red Phosphorous exists as a chain.
viii) Structure Isolated tetrahedral p₄units
Chain of tetrahedral p₄ units linked to each other by P-P bonds

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Parameters	White phosphorous	Red phosphorous
i) State	White Phosphorous is soft (waxy) solid.	Red Phosphorous is Brittle powder.
ii) Colour	White Phosphorous initially white in colour, gradually changes its colour into yellow.	Red Phosphorous dark red colour.
iii) Odour	White Phosphorous has a garlic smell.	Red Phosphorous is Odourless.
iv) Density	White Phosphorous has density 1.82 g/cm³	Red Phosphorous has density 2.1 g/cm³
v) Melting points(M.P)	White Phosphorous has 317 K M.P	--------
vi) Boiling points(B.P)	White Phosphorous has 553.5 K B.P	Red Phosphorous sublimes at 565 K
vii) Physiological nature	white Phosphorous is poisonous	Red Phosphorous is non-poisonous.
viii) Atomicity	white Phosphorous has four atomicity	Red Phosphorous exists as a chain.
viii) Structure	Isolated tetrahedral p₄units	Chain of tetrahedral p₄ units linked to each other by P-P bonds