Question

What happens when white phosphorus is heated with concentrated NaOH solution in an inert atmosphere of ${\text{C}}{{\text{O}}_2}$?

Answer 1

Hint: Arms that use one of the traditional allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus are known as white phosphorus bombs. White phosphorus is a natural burning ingredient in tracer bullets and is used in smoke, illumination, and incendiary explosives.

Complete answer: The base has a sour flavour and is slick to the touch. An alkali is a base that dissolves in water. Salts are formed when certain compounds react chemically with acids. On red litmus paper, bases are known to turn blue.
Sodium hydroxide is a caustic base and alkali that decomposes proteins at room temperature and can result in serious chemical burns. It is highly water soluble and easily absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Hydrogen gas is formed when a base reacts with a metal. When a burning candle is placed close to the test tube's mouth, it makes a popping sound.
\[Metal{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}Base{\text{ }} \to {\text{ }}Hydrogen{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}Salt\]
When white phosphorus is dissolved in a boiling NaOH solution, phosphine is formed. The following is the reaction:
${{\text{P}}_4} + 3{\text{NaOH}} + 3{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} \to \mathop {{\text{P}}{{\text{H}}_3}}\limits_{{\text{ phosphine }}} + 3{\text{Na}}{{\text{H}}_2}{\text{P}}{{\text{O}}_2}$
Phosphine is also the term for a group of organophosphorus compounds known as substituted phosphanes, which are phosphates in which the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by an organic derivative. Organophosphines play an important role in catalysts since they can complex (adhere) to a variety of metal ions. Complexes derived from chiral phosphines can catalyse reactions to produce chiral, enantioenriched items.

Note:
Phosphoric acid and phosphine are generated by acid-catalyzed disproportionation of white phosphorus. Both routes are useful in industry; however, if further reaction of the phosphine to substituted phosphines is needed, the acid route is favoured. Purification and pressurisation are needed for the acid path. It may also be produced by hydrolysis of a metal phosphide, such as aluminium or calcium.