Reaction of Phosphorus with Air
White phosphorus emits light when exposed to moist air in the dark, a process called chemiluminescence. White phosphorus must be handled with care. It burns spontaneously in air at around room temperature to form phosphorus pentoxide – actually tetraphosphorus decahedron, P4O10.
P4(s antioxidant effect) + 5O2(g)→P4O10(s)
Under careful control (75% O2, 25% N2, 50°C, 90 mm Hg), a mixture forms, one of the products being “phosphorus trioxide” – actually phosphorus hexaoxide, P4O6.
P4(s) + 3O2(g)→P4O6(s)
Reaction of phosphorus and water
White phosphorus in the dark It emits light when exposed to moist air, a process called chemiluminescence.
Reaction of Phosphorus and Halogens
White phosphorus (P4) reacts violently with all halogens at room temperature to form phosphorus trihalide. Therefore, it reacts with fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine (I2) to produce phosphorus fluoride (I color paste manufacturer II), phosphorus chloride (III), phosphorus bromide (III) and phosphorus iodide (III) respectively.
P4(s) + 6F2(g)→4PF3(g)
P4(s) + 6Cl2(g)→4PCl3(l)
P4 (s) + 6Br2(g)→4PBr3(l)
P4(s) + 6I2(g)→4PI3(g)
White phosphorus (P4) and iodine (I2) Reacts in carbon disulfide (CS2) to form phosphorus (II) iodide P2I4. Red phosphorus and iodine I2 react at 180°C to form the same compound.
P4(s) + 4I2(g)→2P2I4(g)
Reaction of phosphorus and acid
Phosphorus does not react with Dilute non-oxidizing acid reaction.
