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Chapter 14: Problem 6

Give an account of the various allotropes of phosphorus.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The main allotropes of phosphorus include white, red, black, and violet phosphorus. The white one is a waxy white solid with tetrahedral P4 molecules, it glows in the dark. Red phosphorus is less reactive, doesn't glow and is made of chains of linked P4 tetrahedra. Black phosphorus is the least reactive, having a layered structure similar to graphite and each atom is coordinated to three others. Violet Phosphorus is a polymeric structure made by annealing red phosphorus above 550 degrees Celsius.

Step by step solution

01

Discussing White Phosphorus

White Phosphorus is the most common allotrope and it is typically used in industry. It is a waxy white solid, which glows in the dark due to slow oxidation. Its structure is made up of P4 molecules, where each P atom is connected to the others through single bonds, forming a tetrahedral shape.
02

Discussing Red Phosphorus

Red Phosphorus is much less reactive than white phosphorus and does not glow in the dark. Its structure is made of chains of linked P4 tetrahedra. Red phosphorus can be obtained by heating white phosphorus at high temperatures or under sunlight.
03

Discussing Black Phosphorus

Black Phosphorus is the least reactive allotrope and the most stable under standard conditions. It has a layered structure, quite similar to graphite. Each phosphorus atom in black phosphorus is coordinated to three others.
04

Discussing Violet Phosphorus

Violet Phosphorus is a form of phosphorus that can be produced by day-long annealing of red phosphorus above 550 degrees Celsius. It has a complex polymeric structure.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give an account of the preparation and properties of the following substances. (a) Hydrazoic acid (b) Phosphoric acid (c) White arsenic

Discuss the structure of the following: (a) \(\mathrm{HNO}_{2}\) (b) \(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}\) (c) \(\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{PO}_{3}\) (d) \(\mathrm{PH}_{3}\) (e) \(\mathrm{PCl}_{5}\)

Give reasons for the following: (a) \(\mathrm{NCl}_{3}\) is hydrolysed but \(\mathrm{NF}_{3}\) is stable. (b) \(\mathrm{PCl}_{5}\) is known but \(\mathrm{NCl}_{5}\), does not exist. (c) Bismuth shows mainly +III oxidation states. (d) Nitrogen shows-III oxidation state.

Discuss the oxidising action of dilute and conc. nitric acid with the help of suitable examples.

Write balanced chemical equations for the following: (a) Action of conc. nitric acid on sugar (b) Action of zinc with very dilute nitric acid (c) Action of \(\mathrm{PCl}_{5}\) with ethyl alcohol (d) Action of hot conc. \(\mathrm{NaOH}\) with white phosphorus
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