Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Diphosphorus tetroxide

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Solid

Diphosphorus tetroxide, or phosphorus tetroxide is an inorganic compound of phosphorus and oxygen. It has the empirical chemical formula P
2O
4. Solid diphosphorus tetroxide (also referred to as phosphorus(III,V)-oxide) consists of variable mixtures of the mixed-valence oxides P4O7, P4O8 and P4O9

Preparation

Phosphorus tetroxide is obtainable by thermal decomposition of phosphorus trioxide:

4   P 2 O 3 ⇌ 2   P + 3   P 2 O 4 Phosphorus trioxide disproportionation over the half on the 210°C to phosphorus and phosphorus tetroxide.

In addition, phosphorus trioxide by controlled oxidation with oxygen in carbon tetrachloride solution, into phosphorus tetroxide can be converted.

Reduction of phosphorus produces the phosphorus tetroxide, in careful reaction with red phosphorus, at 450-525 °C.

References

Diphosphorus tetroxide Wikipedia
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