It glows in the dark! Phosphorus burns
White phosphorus reacts with oxygen so easily that it glows in the dark and can catch fire all by itself, making a thick white smoke of phosphorus pentoxide.
The result
- What it makes
- Phosphorus pentoxide
- Equation
- 4P + 5O₂ → P₄O₁₀
- When it happens
- At room temperature
Fun fact from Fizzy: The name phosphorus means "light bringer" in Greek!
🥽 White phosphorus is poisonous and catches fire by itself. It is kept under water.