Phosphorous has three allotropic forms – (i) white phosphorous (ii) red phosphorous and (iii) black phosphorous.
Write the difference between white and red phosphorous on the basis of their structure and reactivity.

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Solution

Different forms of phosphorus:

1. White phosphorous
2. Red phosphorous
3. Black phosphorous

Difference between white phosphorus and red phosphorus:

White phosphorous

Red phosphorous

(i) It is a translucent white waxy solid.

(i) It has a dark red color.

(ii) It is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide

(ii) It is insoluble both water and carbon disulphide.

(iii) It is poisonous.

(iii) It is non- poisonous

(iv) It glows in the dark.

(iv) It does not glow in the dark.

(v) It catches fire readily in air or oxygen.

(v) It does not catch fire at room temperature.

(vi) It is less stable and thus more reactive.

(vi) It is more stable and thus less reactive than white phosphorus.

(vii) It exists as a $P_{4}$ molecule in both solid and vapor states. (vii) It exists as a chain of tetrahedral $P_{4}$ molecule.

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Coordinate Covalent Bond

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White phosphorous	Red phosphorous
(i) It is a translucent white waxy solid.	(i) It has a dark red color.
(ii) It is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide	(ii) It is insoluble both water and carbon disulphide.
(iii) It is poisonous.	(iii) It is non- poisonous
(iv) It glows in the dark.	(iv) It does not glow in the dark.
(v) It catches fire readily in air or oxygen.	(v) It does not catch fire at room temperature.
(vi) It is less stable and thus more reactive.	(vi) It is more stable and thus less reactive than white phosphorus.
(vii) It exists as a $P_{4}$ molecule in both solid and vapor states.	(vii) It exists as a chain of tetrahedral $P_{4}$ molecule.

Phosphorous has three allotropic forms – (i) white phosphorous (ii) red phosphorous and (iii) black phosphorous. Write the difference between white and red phosphorous on the basis of their structure and reactivity.

Phosphorous has three allotropic forms – (i) white phosphorous (ii) red phosphorous and (iii) black phosphorous.
Write the difference between white and red phosphorous on the basis of their structure and reactivity.