The high reactivity and low volatility of white phosphorous is due to:

Options

A. Tetrahedrally arranged `P_4` units
B. Bond angle of `60^@` increases steric (strain ) factor
C. Weak van der Waals forces of attraction
D. both (B) and (C )

Answer

D

Explanation

Each phosphours is `sp^3` hybridised. But there is much deviation in P-P-P bond angles `60^@` from normal tetrahedral angle `(109.5^@)`.So it has angle strain and thus reactive `P_4` exists as discrete molecule and thus it has low van der Waal's force of attraction. This is this reaction that `P_4` has low melting point.