Difference between revisions of "Phosphorus pentoxide"
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
==Preparation== | ==Preparation== | ||
| − | Phosphorus pentoxide can be made by burning elemental phosphorus. | + | Phosphorus pentoxide can be made by burning elemental phosphorus, in a moisture-free environment. One way is to burn phosphorus in a large stainless steel pot with a lid, which has been kept in a dry box. The resulting phosphorus pentoxide fumes from the fire are allowed to settle and cool, then they're scraped off the pot in a dry environment. If you don't need high purity pentoxide, you can do this in open air, but you must move quickly. |
==Projects== | ==Projects== | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
==Handling== | ==Handling== | ||
===Safety=== | ===Safety=== | ||
| − | It is an extremely powerful desiccant, and contact with bare hand must be avoided. | + | It is an extremely powerful desiccant, and contact with bare hand must be avoided. Contact with eyes will result in severe eye damage. |
===Storage=== | ===Storage=== | ||
| − | In closed and sealed bottles, away from any moisture. | + | In closed and sealed bottles, away from any moisture. Never store it in aluminium, and galvanised or tin-plated containers. Stainless steel or glass containers are ideal.<ref>http://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-203187.pdf</ref> |
===Disposal=== | ===Disposal=== | ||
| + | Phosphorus pentoxide can be neutralized by very slowly adding cold water or a cooled carbonate/bicarbonate solution. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:29, 26 November 2015
Phosphorus pentoxide is a chemical compound with molecular formula P4O10, more often written as P2O5.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
Phosphorus pentoxide is the anhydride of phosphoric acid. It will react exothermically with water to yield the said acid.
Physical
Phosphorous pentoxide is a white solid, with a pungent odor and strong deliquescent. Its density is 2.30 g/cm3. It boils at 423 °C under atmospheric pressure; if heated more rapidly it can sublimate.
Availability
Phosphorus pentoxide is sold by chemical suppliers.
Preparation
Phosphorus pentoxide can be made by burning elemental phosphorus, in a moisture-free environment. One way is to burn phosphorus in a large stainless steel pot with a lid, which has been kept in a dry box. The resulting phosphorus pentoxide fumes from the fire are allowed to settle and cool, then they're scraped off the pot in a dry environment. If you don't need high purity pentoxide, you can do this in open air, but you must move quickly.
Projects
- Dry solvents, especially the halogenated ones, which cannot be dried with alkali metals
- Make pure phosphoric acid
- Convert primary amides into nitriles
- Make dinitrogen pentoxide
- Make dichlorine heptoxide
Handling
Safety
It is an extremely powerful desiccant, and contact with bare hand must be avoided. Contact with eyes will result in severe eye damage.
Storage
In closed and sealed bottles, away from any moisture. Never store it in aluminium, and galvanised or tin-plated containers. Stainless steel or glass containers are ideal.[1]
Disposal
Phosphorus pentoxide can be neutralized by very slowly adding cold water or a cooled carbonate/bicarbonate solution.
