P - P - P bond angle in white phosphorous is

Options

A. `60^@`
B. `90^@`
C. `120^@`
D. `109^@28^`

Answer

To determine the P-P-P bond angle in white phosphorus (P4), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Molecular Structure
White phosphorus exists as a tetraatomic molecule, represented as P4. The structure of P4 consists of four phosphorus atoms arranged in a tetrahedral geometry.

**Hint:** Visualize the tetrahedral structure of P4, where each phosphorus atom is at the corner of a tetrahedron.

### Step 2: Analyze the Geometry
In a tetrahedral structure, the bond angles between the atoms are determined by the arrangement of the atoms in three-dimensional space. In a perfect tetrahedron, the bond angles are approximately 109.5 degrees.

**Hint:** Recall that in a tetrahedral geometry, the bond angles are not equal to 60 degrees; instead, they are larger due to the spatial arrangement.

### Step 3: Calculate the Bond Angle
However, in the case of white phosphorus, the P-P-P bond angle is not the standard tetrahedral angle. The bond angle between the phosphorus atoms in P4 is actually 60 degrees. This is because the phosphorus atoms form a triangular planar arrangement when viewed from a certain angle, leading to a bond angle of 60 degrees.

**Hint:** Consider the arrangement of phosphorus atoms in a triangular formation when determining the bond angle.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Thus, the P-P-P bond angle in white phosphorus is 60 degrees.

**Final Answer:** The P-P-P bond angle in white phosphorus is 60 degrees.