Question

On heating with concentrated NaOH solution in an inert atmosphere of CO2, white phosphorus gives a gas.

Answer 1

White Phosphorus is obtained from phosphorite rock with coke and sand. It consist of P4 units.The four P- atoms lie at the corners of a regular tetrahedron. It is less table and therefore more reactive than other allotropic forms of Phosphorus. On heating with concentrated NaOH in an inert environment of CO2following reaction takes place:

(Check this attachment)

Phosphine (PH3) is formed.This reaction is an example of disproportionation reaction in which oxidation state of phosphorus decreases from 0 in P4to -3 in PH3,while it increases from 0 in P4 to +1 in NaH2PO2.