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Question

What are the allotropes of phosphorus?


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Solution

Phosphorus exists in a variety of allotropic forms, the most important of which are white, red, and black.

White phosphorus

  • White phosphorus is a waxy, transparent white substance.
  • It is poisonous, water-insoluble, but soluble in carbon disulfide, and glows in the dark(chemiluminescence).
  • The structure of white phosphorus is as follows:-

Red phosphorus

  • Red phosphorus is formed by heating white phosphorus for several days at 573K in an inert environment.
  • Red phosphorus has an iron-grey luster. It has no odor, is nonpoisonous, and is insoluble in both water and carbon disulfide.
  • It does not light up in the dark.
  • The diagram of red phosphorus is as follows:-

Black phosphorus

  • There are two types of black phosphorus:α -black phosphorus and β-black phosphorus.
  • When red phosphorus is heated in a sealed tube at 803K, the formation of α-black phosphorus takes place.
  • In the air, α -black phosphorus does not oxidize.
  • β-black phosphorus is made by heating white phosphorus under high pressure at 473K.

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