What makes red phosphorus explode?

What makes red phosphorus explode?

Red phosphorus is used on the strike surface of the box that safety matches are stored in; the friction caused by dragging the match head across the rough surface converts some of the red phosphorus to white phosphorus, which spontaneously ignites, causing the match head to ignite.

Is red phosphorus banned?

Red phosphorus is not banned by environmental laws or regulations. However, Epson is banning its use to prevent accidents and ensure product safety.

How poisonous is red phosphorus?

Ingestion: Red phosphorous is consider non-toxic in its pure form. However, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or garlic odor on breath will indicate poisoning by the yellow allotrope. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Drink 2-3 glasses of water and seek medical attention immediately.

Which phosphorus is used as a rat poison?

White phosphorus is used as rodenticides and in fireworks. The most readily available source of yellow phosphorus today is rodenticides. Rodenticides are available as powders or pastes containing 2 to 5% of yellow phosphorus.

What are matchboxes made of?

A matchbox is a box made of cardboard or thin wood and designed to hold matches. It usually has a coarse striking surface on one edge for lighting the matches contained inside.

What is methylamine used for legally?

In the United States, methylamine is controlled as a List 1 precursor chemical by the Drug Enforcement Administration due to its use in the illicit production of methamphetamine.

Can someone survive phosphine gas?

Conclusions: Unintentional phosphine gas exposure is rare but has a toxic profile that results in a high fatality rate with no known antidote.

Do road flares contain red phosphorus?

Traffickers sometimes utilize the striker plates of safety matchbooks or boxes or road flares as a source of red phosphorus. The coating on the striker plate contains from 25 to 60 percent red phosphorus. An estimated 20 to 400 striker plates are needed to obtain one gram of red phosphorus.

Is red phosphorus illegal in USA?

It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess or distribute red phosphorus, white phosphorus, or hypophosphorous acid, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, these substances will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine.

What happens when red phosphorus is heated to form white phosphorus?

the reaction proceeds as follows: So if red phosphorus is strongly heated the red phosphorus will convert to white phosphorus, but as the double arrow indicates, this reaction is reversible so it is important to cool down the newly formed white phosphorus as soon as possible.

How to make white phosphorus with SiO2 and red phosphorus?

With the spatula, put red phosphorus into the bent test tube. put enough in to get a 2-3cm deep layer on the bottom, then place it in a clamp and suspend it above a beaker of warm water (+-50*C) so that the mouth is as far under water as possible. I find it unnecessary to mix SiO2 with the red phosphorus, I have never had problems with bumping.

What’s the best way to purify red phosphorus?

As red phosphorus is purified by boiling with NaOH solution to remove yellow phosphorous, and alkali wash should do well. Might be able to use aqueous ammonia, several washes with prolonged stirring, followed by several DW washes. Won’t boiling it with NaOH solution produce phosphine? My phosphorus does smell a bit like garlic/rotting fish.

Is there any solvent in which red phosphorus is soluble?

As red phosphorus is purified by boiling with NaOH solution to remove yellow phosphorous, and alkali wash should do well. Might be able to use aqueous ammonia, several washes with prolonged stirring, followed by several DW washes. Out of curiosity, is there any solvent in which red phosphorus is soluble?