Page "Phosphorus" Paragraph 9

white phosphorus.

It consists of tetrahedral molecules, in which each atom is bound to the other three atoms by a single bond.

This tetrahedron is also present in liquid and gaseous phosphorus up to the temperature of 800 ° C when it starts decomposing to molecules.

Solid white exists in two forms.

At low-temperatures, the β form is stable.

At high-temperatures the α form is predominant.

These forms differ in terms of the relative orientations of the constituent P < sub > 4 </ sub > tetrahedra.