Phosphorus Flashcards
what group is phosphorus?
group fifteen
is phosphorus a metal or non metal?
metal
as a result of phosphorus being a metal what two qualities does it have?
non conducting
forms acidic oxides
when was phosphorus discovered?
1669
how was phosphorus first ?
by accident when a alchemist was trying to get gold from pee
what 3 qualities does white phosphorus have?
white
waxy
spontaneously combusts in air
is white phosphorus toxic?
to humans, yes
for over 100 years what was the main source of phosphorus?
pee
how is phosphorus obtained today?
obtained from calcium phosphate (apatite) (Ca3(PO4)2)
this mineral is heated with sand and coke to get white phosphorus
what is the shape of P4 (white phosphorus)?
tetrahedron (phosphorus in corners)
what are the bond angles in tertahedron?
all 60 degrees
what is the reason white phosphorus is so unstable and reactive?
because the 60 degree angles of the tetrahedron mean lots of bond strain
if white phosphorus is heated in the abscence of air to 300 degrees what happens?
it changes its structure to a different allotrope called red phosphorus
what is the structure of red phoshorus
tetrahedron with a bond moved to connect it to another tetrahedron, forms a chain
is red phosphorus as reactive and toxic as white phosphorus?
no
