Phosphorus hydroxide is a formula, properties

There are three classes of complex inorganic compounds: oxides, hydroxides (including acids and bases), and also salts. Many metals and non-metals can form oxides, hydroxides, and also enter into the composition of acid residues. Thus, phosphorus is included in the acid residue of PO ₄ . There are several varieties of phosphorus oxide. Accordingly, there are various of its hydroxides, which of these oxides are formed. The highest phosphorus hydroxide is phosphoric acid. In this article, we will consider the physical and chemical properties of the element and its compounds, as well as its abundance in nature and other interesting facts.

Physical properties of phosphorus

It can exist in a variety of variations. Phosphorus is a substance that consists of a single chemical element. Its atoms do not combine into molecules. The phosphorus formula is P. However, depending on the structure of the crystal lattice, this element can exist as three substances.

The most common is white phosphorus - it has a waxy structure and high toxicity. The melting point of this substance is forty-four degrees Celsius, and the boiling point is two hundred and eighty degrees. When rubbing this material, it quickly flares up, so cut it, only by placing it in an aqueous medium. If over a long time to heat it at a temperature of two hundred and fifty degrees on the scale of Celsius, it turns into red phosphorus. This substance is presented in the form of a brownish-red powder. Red phosphorus, unlike white, is not poisonous.

The most stable form of existence of this element can be called black phosphorus, which by some external signs is similar to metal: it has a unique luster, high hardness, electrical and thermal conductivity.

From the point of view of chemistry

Phosphorus is a chemical element that is in the fifth group and the third period in the periodic table. From this we can conclude that its valence is five. In addition, from the periodic table it can be seen that the element phosphorus has an atomic mass equal to thirty-one grams per mole. This means that 1 mole of substance will weigh 31 grams. Considering the chemical properties of phosphorus, we will talk about its reactions with simple as well as complex compounds.

Interaction with simple substances

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the oxidation of phosphorus. This is his reaction with oxygen. As a result, two different substances can be formed - everything will depend on the proportions of these components.

The first variant - from two moles of phosphorus and three moles of oxygen, two moles of phosphorus trioxide is formed. We can write down a similar chemical interaction using the following equation: 4P + 3O ₂ = 2P ₂ O ₃ .

The second option is the formation of four moles of phosphorus and five moles of oxygen of two moles of phosphorus pentoxide. This reaction can be expressed by the following equation: 4P + 5O ₂ = 2P ₂ O ₅ .

In both chemical reactions, a significant release of light occurs. In addition, phosphorus can interact with such simple substances as metals, halogens (fluorine, iodine, bromine, chlorine), sulfur. This chemical element is able to exhibit both reducing and oxidizing properties. An example of the interaction with halogens is chlorination. It occurs in two stages. The first is the formation of two moles of phosphorus trichloride from two moles of the non-metal in question and three moles of chlorine. This interaction can be expressed by means of the following equation: 2P + 3Cl ₂ = 2PCl ₃ .

The second stage of this process is the addition of chlorine atoms to the already obtained phosphorus trichlorate. Thus, when one chlorine is added to one mole of the same volume, one mole of phosphorus pentachlorate is formed. We write down the equation of this reaction in the following way: PCl ₃ + Cl ₂ = PCl ₅ .

The patterns of interaction of phosphorus with metals can be considered in this example. If we take three moles of potassium and one mole of phosphorus, we get one mole of potassium phosphide. Write down this kind of process with the help of the following reaction equation: 3K + P = K ₃ P.

Interaction with complex substances

To complex chemical compounds with which phosphorus is able to react, include acids and salts. Let us describe in order the features of the contact of the element in question with these groups of chemical substances.

Phosphorus and acids

Among all the others, the interaction of phosphorus and nitric acid is particularly prominent. To carry out this type of reaction, it is necessary to take the following components: phosphorus in the amount of three moles, five moles of nitric acid, and water - two moles. As a result of this chemical interaction, we obtain the following products: phosphoric acid and nitrogen oxide. The equation of this reaction is written as follows: 3P + 5HNO ₃ + 3H ₂ O = 3H ₃ PO ₄ + 5NO.

Phosphorus and salts

Such chemical interactions can be considered by the example of the reaction of the non-metal in question with cupram sulfate. To carry out this process, it is necessary to take two moles of phosphorus, five moles of copper sulphate, eight moles of water. As a result of the interaction of these substances, we obtain the following chemical compounds: sulfate acid in an amount of five moles, pure copper - as much, and phosphoric acid - two moles. The process can be written in the form of the following equation: 2P + 5CuSO ₄ + 8H ₂ O = 5H ₂ SO ₄ + 5Cu + 2H ₃ PO ₄ .

Preparation of this nonmetal

In industry, the substance in question is extracted from a chemical compound, such as calcium phosphate. To do this, the following chemical reaction is carried out: mixing said salt with sand (silicon oxide) and carbon in molar proportions of 1: 3: 5, resulting in calcium silicate, phosphorus and gas in a molar ratio of 3: 2: 5.

Phosphorus compounds and their properties

The most common of the compounds of the non-metal in question is phosphorus hydroxide. It can be of several kinds depending on the oxide from which it is formed. Phosphorus hydroxide can be obtained by conducting a chemical reaction between its oxide and water. Due to such reactions, various types of substances are formed. Thus, from the trioxide, hydroxide (3) can be obtained, and phosphorus hydroxide (5) from the pentoxide. These substances have acid properties and are able, in turn, to react with metals, salts, bases, etc.

The highest phosphorus hydroxide is phosphoric acid. It is oxygen-containing and tribasic. Its formula is H ₃ PO ₄ .

Basic chemical properties

Phosphorus hydroxide, the formula of which is given above, is able to react with both simple and complex substances. Let's consider these processes in more detail.

Reactions of phosphoric acid with metals

Like other chemical compounds of this class, phosphorus hydroxide is able to interact with metals. During this process, a substitution reaction occurs in which the metal atoms displace the hydrogen atoms, thereby forming a salt and hydrogen released into the air in the form of a gas with an unpleasant odor. In order for this reaction to take place, the metal must be located to the left of hydrogen in the electrochemical activity series. That is, substances such as copper, silver and the like are not able to react with phosphoric acid, because, due to their low chemical activity, they can not displace the hydrogen atoms from their compounds.

As an example, consider aluminum. When two moles of this element are added to two moles of phosphorus hydroxide, we get aluminum phosphate and hydrogen in an amount of 2 and 3 moles, respectively. The equation of this reaction is written as follows: 2Al + 2H ₃ PO ₄ = 2AlPO ₄ + 3H ₂ .

Interaction with bases

Phosphorus hydroxide, like many other acids, can enter into chemical reactions with bases. Such processes are called exchange reactions. As a result, a new hydroxide is formed, as well as a new acid. Such reactions can be carried out only if one of the products obtained is insoluble in water, that is, precipitates, evaporates as a gas, or is water or a very weak electrolyte.

Phosphoric acid and salts

In this case, there is also an exchange reaction. As a result, you can get a new acid and salt. In order for this kind of reaction to take place, the rule should also be observed, which was described just above.

The use of phosphorus and its compounds in industry

First of all, the compounds of this chemical element are used to make a mixture that is applied to the side surface of match boxes. Also a mixture with the content of phosphorus is processed and the heads of matches themselves. The pentoxide of the non-metal in question is widely used as a gas dehumidifier. It is also used in the chemical industry to produce phosphorus hydroxide, the formula and properties of which have been discussed above. In addition, it is used in the manufacture of glass.

Phosphorus hydroxide also finds application in many industries. First of all, it is used in the manufacture of fertilizers. This is due to the fact that for plants phosphorus is simply vital. Therefore, there are a number of different fertilizers that are made on the basis of the compound of the non-metal in question. For these purposes, substances such as calcium phosphate are used. Salt is used as a fertilizer in the ground form. In addition, ordinary and double superphosphate is used for this. As a fertilizer can serve as ammophos and nitroammophos. In addition to all of the above, salts or phosphorus hydroxide are used as a reagent to determine the presence of silver compounds in solution. Thus, add a substance containing the acid residue of PO ₄ to the solution. If the latter contains salts or silver hydroxide, a precipitate of a rich yellow color will appear. This is an argentum phosphate having the following chemical formula: AgNO ₃ .

The structure of the phosphorus atom

As is known, all atoms consist of a nucleus and electrons rotating around it. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons. Electrons have a negative charge, protons - positive, and neutrons - zero. The ordinal number of phosphorus in the periodic table is fifteen. From this we can conclude that its core contains fifteen protons. If the atom is neutral, and not an ion, then the electrons are the same as the protons. That is, in the case of phosphorus they are fifteen.

If one of the electrons leaves its orbit, the atom will turn into a positively charged ion, that is, a cation. If one electron joins, a negatively charged ion anion is formed.

In the periodic system of chemical elements, one can see that phosphorus belongs to the third period. From this it is clear that around the nucleus there are three orbits, on which the electrons are uniformly distributed. On the first one there are two, on the second - eight electrons, and on the third - five.

Prevalence in nature

The mass fraction of phosphorus in the earth's crust is 0.08%. It is not a very widespread chemical element in nature. However, there is a whole group of minerals, which include phosphorus. These are apatites, as well as phosphorites. The most common of the first group is fluorapatite. Its chemical formula is as follows: 3Ca ₃ (PO4) ₂ • CaF ₂ . It can be transparent, green and turquoise. Among phosphorites, calcium phosphate, which has the following chemical formula: Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) _2, is most common. In addition, phosphorus compounds are found in the tissues of various living organisms.

The role of phosphorus and its compounds in nature and the body

This chemical element is very important for the normal functioning of almost all organs and their systems. First of all, without it, uninterrupted kidney work is impossible. This element takes part in the metabolic processes of the body. It also promotes the rapid regeneration of tissues. Without it, some vitamins simply can not activate to give benefit to the body - that's why almost all of the vitamin preparations are often supplemented with phosphorus. In addition, it is one of the chemical elements that ensure the normal functioning of the heart. He, in addition to all of the above, is involved in the process of cell division, so without this microelement life on the Earth is impossible.

Regulation of the water-salt balance is another function performed in the body of the compound of the non-metal considered in this article. In addition, it is one of the main components of bone and muscle tissue. A large percentage of it is contained in the teeth. Among other things, it should also be noted that phosphorus is involved in the normal functioning of the nervous system. Symptoms of a deficiency in the body of the micronutrient in question are the following: increased fatigue, poor working capacity, disorders in the work of the nervous system (neuroses, hysteria, etc.), too frequent colds, cardiac muscle depletion, bone and muscle pain, very weak appetite. To avoid such a phenomenon as a lack of phosphorus in the body, you need to know what products it contains. First of all, among the products rich in the chemical element in question, fish should be isolated. Especially high concentration of phosphorus is observed in such species as sturgeon, mackerel, horse mackerel, tuna, sardine, capelin, pollock, smelt. In addition, the microelement considered in this article is contained in crabmeat, shrimp, and also in dairy products, such as cottage cheese, processed cheese, and brynza.

conclusions

Phosphorus, although not very common on the planet, is a chemical element, but it is of great importance from both an industrial and a biological point of view. He and its compounds, in particular, phosphorus hydroxide, are used in the production of various kinds of products. The properties of phosphorus hydroxide (phosphoric acid) and its interaction with metals, bases and salts have also been described.