Phosphorus

Storage stability and reactivity towards container material

Administrative data

Endpoint:

storage stability and reactivity towards container material

Type of information:

other: Peer-reviewed article of an expert

Adequacy of study:

key study

Study period:

1991

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Scientifix standard textbook from a reliable group of expert of properties of phosphor

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

review article or handbook

Title:

Unnamed

Materials and methods

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Phosphorus

EC Number:

231-768-7

EC Name:

Phosphorus

Cas Number:

7723-14-0

IUPAC Name:

phosphine

Results and discussion

Results:

Citation: For many kinds of red phosphorus "products" (including various size distributions), storage is not possible. Each product is immediately packed under nitrogen in the customer's container.
Red phosphorus is packed in polyethylene bags under nitrogen, and these are packed in steel open-topped drums with lids. For tonnage quantities of red phosphorus, stainless steel containers are used. The following regulations apply:

Transformation products:

yes

Identity of transformation products

Identity of transformation products 1

No.:

#1

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

9066-91-5

CAS number:

9066-91-5

Identity of transformation products 2

No.:

#1

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

phosphorous acid

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 233-663-1]

CAS number:

10294-56-1

Identity of transformation products 3

No.:

#2

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

phosphinic acid

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 228-601-5]

CAS number:

6303-21-5

Identity of transformation products 4

No.:

#2

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

hypophosphorous acid

Identifier:

common name

Identity:

hypophosphorous acid

Identity of transformation products 5

No.:

#3

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

hydrogen(1+)

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 215-605-7]

CAS number:

1333-74-0

Identity of transformation products 6

No.:

#4

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

phosphine

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 232-260-8]

CAS number:

7803-51-2

Identity of transformation products 7

No.:

#4

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

Phosphane

Identifier:

common name

Identity:

Phosphane

Identity of transformation products 8

No.:

#5

Reference

Reference substance name:

Unnamed

IUPAC name:

phosphoric acid

Inventory number:

InventoryMultipleMappingImpl [inventoryEntryValue=EC 231-633-2]

CAS number:

7664-38-2

Any other information on results incl. tables

Red phosphorus should be stored and handled under an inert gas atmosphere because itis thermodynamically unstable in the presence of water and oxygen. Otherwise red phosphorus will very slowly undergo disproportionation and oxidation reactions.

These reactions lead to a mixture of phosphorus oxyacids and traces of hydrogen and/or phosphine according to the qualitative description below.

P_x  +  H₂O  +  O₂  --->  H₃PO₄  +  H₃PO₃  +  H₃PO₂  +  H₂  +  PH₃ 

 

The known acidic phosphorus-containing reaction products are phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), phosphorous acid (H₃PO₃), and hypophosphorous acid (H₃PO₂) depending on the amount of oxygen present.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Red phosphorus should be stored and handled under inert gas.

Executive summary:

Red phosphorus should be stored and handled under an inert gas atmosphere. Usually it is packed in polyethylene bags under nitrogen, and these are packed in steel open-topped drums with lids. For tonnage quantities of red phosphorus, stainless steel containers covered with nitrogen are used.