In chemical production and application, we often hear people talk about white phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, and red phosphorus. As can be seen from their names, they are phosphorus of different colors. However, white phosphorus and yellow phosphorus refer to the same substance, which is a yellow waxy solid formed by partial oxidation of white phosphorus. Chemically speaking, white phosphorus and red phosphorus are allotropes, just like diamond and graphite. Different elements of different elements.
Structure and Properties In chemistry, structure determines properties. Since red phosphorus and white phosphorus have very different structures, their properties are also different. Red phosphorus is stable in the air, while white phosphorus spontaneously ignites in the air; red phosphorus is non-toxic, while white phosphorus is highly toxic; red phosphorus can be used as a flame retardant, and white phosphorus can be used as an incendiary bomb. In terms of structural composition, white phosphorus is composed of P4 molecules. The phosphorus atoms in the molecule have a regular tetrahedral structure. Red phosphorus is also composed of P4 molecules, but one of the bonds of the molecule is broken and polymerized to form a polymer structure. Therefore, it can be said that red phosphorus is an inorganic polymer substance. Its molecular formula can be written as (P4)n (n represents the degree of polymerization).
Red phosphorus (RP), or red phosphorus, appears as a red to deep purple-red powder. It is insoluble in water, dilute acid, and many organic solvents, but slightly soluble in absolute ethanol, phosphorus tribromide, and sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. Red phosphorus ignites when heated to 200°C in air to produce P2O5. In addition, red phosphorus can also burn when heated in chlorine gas. Since the phosphorus element in red phosphorus is in a low valence state (zero valences) when blended with KClO3, KMnO4, peroxide, and other strong oxidants,
An explosion may occur under the right conditions.
