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MolSynapse / Question bank / p-Block Elements: Groups 15 and 16 / Phosphorus allotropes, phosphine, halides and oxyacids of phosphorus

JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3pn040

White phosphorus is far more reactive than red phosphorus mainly because

Athe $6 0^{\circ}$ P-P-P angles in the tetrahedral $P X_{4}$ molecule cause large angular strain
Bwhite phosphorus has a polymeric chain structure
Cwhite phosphorus contains P=P double bonds
Dwhite phosphorus has a much higher ionisation enthalpy

Answer: A

In

P X_{4}

the P-P-P angle is

6 0^{\circ}

, far from the preferred

\sim 10 0^{\circ}

of

p

-orbital bonding, so the molecule is strained and its bonds break easily. Red phosphorus is polymeric and less strained. White phosphorus has only single P-P bonds.

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