why is white phosphorus kept immersed
Answers
Answer:
White phosphorus is highly reactive, and spontaneously ignites at about 30°C in moist air. It is usually stored under water, to prevent exposure to the air. It is also extremely toxic, even in very small quantities.
Answer:
Phosphorus is found in three main forms: white, red, and black. (There are also numerous allotropes of each of these forms.)
White phosphorus is a soft, waxy, flammable substance, consisting of tetrahedral P4 molecules; it is often slightly yellowish because of the presence of impurities (hence, it is sometimes imaginatively known as yellow phosphorus). White phosphorus is highly reactive, and spontaneously ignites at about 30°C in moist air. It is usually stored under water, to prevent exposure to the air. It is also extremely toxic, even in very small quantities. (See Hazard warnings below.)
Red phosphorus is stable at room temperature, but can be converted to the more reactive white phosphorus by heat, sunlight, or friction. Red phosphorus is used on the strike surface of the box that safety matches are stored in; the friction caused by dragging the match head across the rough surface converts some of the red phosphorus to white phosphorus, which spontaneously ignites, causing the match head to ignite. Red phosphorus is also used in fireworks, and other explosives.
Black phosphorus is the least reactive form, and has little commercial value, but can be converted to white phosphorus by heating it under pressure.
In this demonstration, a small chunk of white phosphorus has been left exposed to air for about 15 minutes (which is not shown); the white phosphorus then spontaneously ignites, producing a brilliant yellow-orange flame, and a dense cloud of choking vapor
Hope this will help you
Mark me as brainliest
Follow me