Write main differences between the properties of white phosphorus and red phosphorus.

Red Phosphorus

White Phosphorus

1. It is soft solid and almost colourless but acquires pale yellow colour on standing.

1. It is a red solid.

2. It melts at 317 K and boils at 563 K.

2. It burns at 533K to give phosphorous pentaoxide.

3. With air contact it undergoes slow combustion and glows in dark. This property is called chemiluminescence.

3. It does not glow in dark.

4. It is insoluble in water but readily soluble in carbon disulphide and oils.

4. It is insoluble in water as well as in carbon disulphide.

5. It is very reactive and catches fire when heated in air. On burning it gives dense white fumes of phosphorus pentoxide.

5. It is more stable and chemically less reactive as compared to white phosphorus.