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Phosphorus
Electron Configuration 2,8,5
Electron Configuration [Ne] 3s2 3p3
Ground state 43/2
Atomic Volume 17.02 g/cm3
Electronegativity 2.19
Magnetic ordering No data
Mass magnetic susceptibility -1.13 x 10-8
Molar magnetic susceptibility -3.5 x 10-10
Thermal Properties
Enthalpy of Atomization 314.6 kJ mol-1 @25°C
Enthalpy of Fusion 2.51 (white) kJ mol-1
Enthalpy of Vaporisation 51.9 (white) kJ mol-1
Heat Capacity (white) 23.824 J mol-1 K-1
Thermal Conductivity (white) 0.236 W m-1 K-1
Thermal Expansion No data.
Elastic Properties
Bulk modulus 11 GPa
Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity No data.
Electrical conductivity No data.
Chemical Properties
Electrochemical Equivalent 0.23113 g Ah-1
Valence Electron Potential (-eV) 190
Ionization Potential  
First 10.486
Second 19.725
Third 30.18
Incompatibilities Air, oxidizers (including elemental sulfur and strong caustics), halogens.
Flammability
Flammable solid
Autoignition temp 34°C (white)
Optical Properties
Refractive Index (gas) 1.001212
Energy Levels
Kα1 (intensity 100) 2.0137 KeV
Kα2 (intensity 0) 2.0127 KeV
Kβ1 (intensity 4.1) 2.1391 KeV
Lα1 (intensity 100) 0.1 KeV
Lγ3 (intensity 0) 0.109 KeV
Ll (intensity 100) 0.1 KeV
Atomic Radii
Empirical 100 pm
Bohr Radius 98 pm
Covalent Radius 106 pm
Van der Waals 180 pm
Triple covalent 94 pm
Metallic No data.
Ionic Radii (Å)
Charge Coordination Crystal Ionic Key
VI 0.58 0.44 A
IV 0.31 0.17 *
V 0.43 0.29
VI 0.52 0.38 C
R, From r3 vs V plots.
C, Calculated from bond length - bond strength equations.
E, Estimated.
*, Most Reliable.
M, From Metallic Oxides.
A, Ahrens (1952) Ionic radius.
P, Pauling's (1960) Crystal Radius.
Oxidation States
Main P+5
Other P-3, P-2, P0, P+2, P+3
Ionisation Energies (kJ mol-1) show graph
M - M+ 1011.7
M+ - M2+ 1903.2
M2+ - M3+ 2912
M3+ - M4+ 4956
M4+ - M5+ 6273
M5+ - M6+ 21268
M6+ - M7+ 25397
M7+ - M8+ 29854
M8+ - M9+ 35867
M9+ - M10+ 40958
Covalent Bonds (kJ mol-1)
P-H 328
P-O 407
P=O 560
P-F 490
P-Cl 319
P-P 209
Vapour Pressure (white)
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K
T (K) 279 307 342 388 453 549
Vapour Pressure (red)
P (Pa) 1 10 100 1K 10K 100K
T (K) 455 489 529 576 635 704
Crystal Structure
Structure Triclinic
a = 1145 pm
b = 550.3 pm
c = 1126.1 pm
α = 71.840°
β = 90.370°
γ = 71.560°