White phosphorus
CAS #: 7723-14-0
RTECS #: TH3500000
UN #: 1381 (Guide 136) 2447 (Guide 136)
Agent Characteristics
- APPEARANCE: White to yellow transparent, waxy crystalline solid. Turns dark on exposure to light.
- DESCRIPTION: White phosphorus is a toxic substance produced from phosphate-containing rocks. White phosphorus is used industrially to manufacture chemicals used in fertilizers, food additives, and cleaning compounds. It has been used in the past as a pesticide and in fireworks. It is used by the military in various types of ammunition as an incendiary agent (because it spontaneously catches fire in air) and as a smoke agent (because it produces clouds of irritating white smoke). It has a match-like or garlic-like, acrid odor, but odor should not be depended on for detection of white phosphorus.