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Question

White phosphorus is a highly-reactive,molecular solid that melts just above room temperature (melting point = 30 degree Celsius). It subtly glows in the dark emitting light and this phenomenon is called chemiluminescence – True or False

A
True
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B
False
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Solution

The correct option is A True
As we saw in the previous answer, white Phosphorus is a highly-reactive, low melting solid. It glows in the dark and this phenomenon is inappropriately also called “phosphorescence”. Ideally, it should be called chemiluminescence or chemoluminescence.

It happens because of the general instability of the molecular solid structure of P4 (white Phosphorus). As a solid, the substance forms vapours, which react with oxygen in the air. This temporarily generates PO2 molecules, which have electrons in the excited state. These electrons, when they get de-excited or fall back from higher energy levels to lower energy levels, emit light corresponding to visible light spectrum. Hence the subtle glow of white Phosphorus in the dark.

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