Inorganic Made Easy - 1

Explain - why is Red Phosphorus more stable than white phosphorus?

Which one of the following allotrope of Phosphorus conducts electricity:

1. White P
2. Red P
3. Black P
4. Violet P

n.b. White is sometimes mentioned in problems (especially qualitative analysis) as yellow phosphorus, so don't be confused.

1 Answers

1) dude, Red P is thermodynamically more stable thn WHITE P. i.e. when white P is heated to higher

temperature ( 250⁰C ) , then red P is formed. so, its obvious dat white P is unstable , thus it splits

to form a stable red P. Moreover, red P is a polymeric form, thus less reactive than white P.

2) Its perhaps black P. As it hs structure similar to graphite. thus, the layers are slippery which allows

electron delocalisation in between these P- layers. thus, valence electrons are free to move and its a good

conductor.

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