ryan0713
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synthesis of white phosphorous from red phosphorous
I there a way to obtain white phosphorous from red phosphorous? There is a video on how but this method can only produce a few milligrams. Here is the
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaUIFZCCHiE
Would this method be reproducible on larger scale, say, a few grams? My guess would be to make a retort and dip the neck into cold water. The red P
would vaporize and condense as P4 on the neck right? This apparatus would be be put under inert atmosphere, of course, due to the pyrophoric nature of
P4.
Would I succeed in using this method, or just blow myself up?
P.S.: I'm not going to use it make meth or something!
[Edited on 9-29-2011 by ryan0713]
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Ozone
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Using the search engine (labeled "search" below the firey symbol) and entering "making phosphorus" gives:
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=15046#...
There is a very large thread about distilling it on here, somewhere.
Try it (the search engine), sometime!
O3
-Anyone who never made a mistake never tried anything new.
--Albert Einstein
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woelen
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I have a webpage and detailed write-up on this subject on my website. Just go to the chemistry experiments section and click on the element P in the
periodic table chart.
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plastics
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I have used woelen's technique quite successfully. Please heed all the warnings - otherwise you can end up with quite a nasty fireball. White/yellow
phosphorus, although an extremely interesting element, is treacherous, toxic and unforgiving!
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Chemistry Alchemist
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I made a video on making white phosphorus from red phosphorus, it was only a small scale reaction but i ficured a way to collect the WP and melt it
off the the cellulose to make a mini ball of WP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2YrGvuygKU
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ScienceSquirrel
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Mood: Dogs are pets but cats are little furry humans with four feet and self determination! 
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Given the relative toxicity and flammability of red and white phosphorous I think it is better to make white phosphorous in small amounts as required
in a home lab.
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Endimion17
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Never use a large retort. Never ever. The bigger the retort, the more water will it suck on cooling. If it shatters, you could end up covered in
burns.
Make a dozen 1-2 ml retorts and distill small batches, then melt them all together. The safest way.
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ryan0713
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I was planning on making a steel retort. My plan for counteracting suck-back is to have helium running through the appuratus so there would be no
differential in pressure while the gas expands. I know P4 can be set of by the heat of a human hand, so I make sure to take every precaution.
P.S Will the steel react with the p4?(nube here)
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