Hope all your materials are in as the official last day of term is today!
Now, about yesterday...the good news is that the smoke that many of us breathed in on Thursday is not toxic... it is an irritant that could lead to coughing, and red eyes. So what was that stuff anyways?
Basically, it was a science demo that got away. Pure phosphorous is a non-metal that reacts readily with oxygen to form P4O10 (also known by its empirical formula P2O5 and name diphosphorous pentoxide).
Here's the chemical equation
4 P (s) + 5 O2 (g) --> P4O10 (s)
Small pieces of white phosphorous are usually chipped off a stick and as it is exposed to air an OXIDATION REACTION occurs. The phosphorus combines with oxygen from the air to make P4O10 "smoke." The reaction also releases heat (it's highly exothermic) and produces light. If too much reacts at the same time, we get issues!
Interested in seeing more???
White phosphorous has been used in warfare as it ignites quickly and it makes a lot of smoke. If a piece of white phosphorus came from a grenade or bomb and got on/into your skin, it would burn you and leave tissue damage. There are many cases of civilians being hit by white phosphorous bombs and being covered in white phosphorous leading to severe burns and death.
Have a safe and smoke free day!
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