White phosphorus

White phosphorus

White phosphorus sample with a chunk removed from the corner to expose un-oxidized material

Tetraphosphorus molecule
Names
IUPAC names
White phosphorus
Tetraphosphorus
Systematic IUPAC name
1,2,3,4-Tetraphosphatricyclo[1.1.0.02,4]butane
Other names
  • Molecular phosphorus
  • Yellow phosphorus
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.107.967 Edit this at Wikidata
UN number 1381
  • InChI=1S/P4/c1-2-3(1)4(1)2
    Key: OBSZRRSYVTXPNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • P12P3P1P23
Properties
P4
Molar mass 123.895 g·mol−1
Density 1.82 g/cm3
Melting point 44.1 °C; 111.4 °F; 317.3 K
Boiling point 280 °C; 536 °F; 553 K
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gasFlammability 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g. propaneInstability 2: Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. E.g. white phosphorusSpecial hazards (white): no code
4
4
2
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

White phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, or simply tetraphosphorus (P4) is an allotrope of phosphorus. It is a translucent waxy solid that quickly yellows in light (due to its photochemical conversion into red phosphorus),[1] and impure white phosphorus is for this reason called yellow phosphorus. White phosphorus is the first allotrope of phosphorus, and in fact the first elementary substance to be discovered that was not known since ancient times.[2] It glows greenish in the dark (when exposed to oxygen) and is highly flammable and pyrophoric (self-igniting) upon contact with air. It is toxic, causing severe liver damage on ingestion and phossy jaw from chronic ingestion or inhalation. The odour of combustion of this form has a characteristic garlic odor, and samples are commonly coated with white "diphosphorus pentoxide", which consists of P4O10 tetrahedra with oxygen inserted between the phosphorus atoms and at their vertices. White phosphorus is only slightly soluble in water and can be stored under water. P4 is soluble in benzene, oils, carbon disulfide, and disulfur dichloride.

  1. ^ "White phosphorus". American Chemical Society. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  2. ^ Weeks, Mary Elvira (1932). "The discovery of the elements. II. Elements known to the alchemists". Journal of Chemical Education. 9 (1): 11. Bibcode:1932JChEd...9...11W. doi:10.1021/ed009p11.

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