Home
Class 12
CHEMISTRY
Why is red phosporus less reactive than ...

Why is red phosporus less reactive than white phosphorus?

Text Solution

Verified by Experts

White phosphorus is discrete `P_(4)` molecule having tetrahedral shape and have very high angular strain in the molecule, as the angles are 60 degrees each. This high angular strain makes white phosphorus unstable and highly reactive. Red phosphorus on the other hand, is a polymeric structure and consists of `P_(4)` tetrahedra linked together, which has much less angular strain and hence more stable and less reactive than white phosphorus.
Promotional Banner

Topper's Solved these Questions

  • CHEMISTRY-2019

    ICSE|Exercise Question (Answer the following questions) |5 Videos

  • CHEMISTRY-2018

    ICSE|Exercise Question (Answer the following question) |5 Videos

  • CHEMISTRY-2020

    ICSE|Exercise Question (Answer the following question) |4 Videos

Similar Questions

Explore conceptually related problems

Why is red phosphorus less reactive than white phosphorus ?

State true or false : red phosphorus less reactive than white phosphorus

Give reasons for the following: (a) Red phosphorus is less reactive than white phosphorus. (b) Electron gain enthalpies of halogens arelargely negative. (c) N_(2)O_(5) is more acidic than N_(2)O_(3) .

Red phosphorus is less reactive than yellow phosphorus because

Assertion: Red phophorus is less volatile then white phosphorus. Reason: Red phosphorus has a discrete tetrahedral structure.

Assertion : White phosphorus is more reactive than red phosphorus. Reason : It readily catches fire in air to give dense white fumes of P_(4)O_(10) .

Why phosphorus is more reactive than nitrogen?

White phosphorus has.

Explain the following (i) Nitrogen is much less reactive than phosphorus. (ii) NF_(3) is an exothermic compound but NCl_(3) is an endothermic compound.

Explain the following observations : (i) Nitrogen is much less reactive than phosphorus. (ii) Despite having greater polarity, hydrogen fluoride boils at a lower temperature than water.