Question

How Caustic soda interacts with white phosphorus?

Answer 1

White phosphorus:

• The element is extremely reactive. In chlorine, white phosphorus spontaneously burns and interacts aggressively with the halogens.
• Because white phosphorus interacts fast with oxygen in the air, it is unlikely to be discovered far from pollution sources.
• The destiny of white phosphorus smoke is identical to that of white phosphorus reaction products.

Phosphine and sodium hypo phosphate are formed when white phosphorus combines with caustic soda:

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{P}}_4\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+3\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to 3{\mathrm{NaH}}_2{\mathrm{PO}}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{PH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{White}\mathrm{Water}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Sodium}-\mathrm{hypo}\mathrm{Phosphine} \\ \mathrm{Phosphorus}\mathrm{Hydroxide}\mathrm{phosphate} \end{gathered}$$