Write main differences between the properties of white phosphorus and red phosphorus.

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Solution

White phosphorus

Red Phosphorus

It is a soft and waxy solid. It possesses a garlic smell.

It is a hard and crystalline solid, without any smell.

It is poisonous.

It is non-poisonous.

It is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide.

It is insoluble in both water and carbon disulphide.

It undergoes spontaneous combustion in air.

It is relatively less reactive.

In both solid and vapour states, it exists as a P₄ molecule.

It exists as a chain of tetrahedral P₄ units.

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White phosphorus	Red Phosphorus
It is a soft and waxy solid. It possesses a garlic smell.	It is a hard and crystalline solid, without any smell.
It is poisonous.	It is non-poisonous.
It is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulphide.	It is insoluble in both water and carbon disulphide.
It undergoes spontaneous combustion in air.	It is relatively less reactive.
In both solid and vapour states, it exists as a P₄ molecule.	It exists as a chain of tetrahedral P₄ units.