A red phosphorus sun – periodicity and allotropes

This demo is ideal for lessons on periodicity. Like carbon and sulfur, phosphorus displays a range of allotropes with interesting structures and properties to discuss. One of the most iconic phosphorus demonstrations involves igniting white phosphorus in a large round bottomed flask filled with oxygen to produce a magical glowing ‘sun’.

Many think the experiment can only be performed with white phosphorus, which is hard to acquire and difficult to handle safely. But this isn't the case – exactly the same astonishing effect can be produced with red phosphorus.

Read the article that accompanies this video in the November 2015 issue of Education in Chemistry at https://rsc.li/2JVbDqZ

This is part of the Education in Chemistry Exhibition Chemistry series: chemistry demonstrations to capture your students' imaginations: http://rsc.li/EiCExChem