Making White Phosphorus a Terrifying Element

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want access to exclusive videos and you would also like to see your name at the end of these videos make sure to check out my Patreon. You are free to subscribe or not subscribe but I would appreciate any support:
Patreon: / thyzoid
Other Platforms: linktr.ee/thylabs
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discord: / discord
Instagram: / thyzoyd
Twitter: / thyzoid1
TikTok: / thylabs
Reddit: / thyzoid
Keep exploring at brilliant.org/ThyLabs/ . Get started for free, and hurry-the first 200 people get 20% off an annual premium subscription.
Get a 7% discount on your next purchase from laboratoriumdiscounter.com with the secret code "THYLABS2023" (this is the new code the old one is outdated).
In this video, we'll be making white phosphorus using readily available materials. This phosphorus is an extremely dangerous compound and can result in serious health consequences if ingested or inhaled. Be sure to watch this video carefully and do NOT repeat any of this!
White phosphorus (P4) is a toxic element with interesting properties. It glows when exposed to air and thus was the reason for creation of the term phosphorluminescence (materials that glow when exposed to varying types of radiation, an electron beam or other things). The term phosphorluminescence is deceiving given that it does not apply to P4 itself which is chemiluminescent. Phosphorus can ignite on it´s own and is very reactive.
Support me on patron so i can set up a real lab one day to make even better videos. Follow me on Instagram or Reddit for additional content:
Patreon: / thyzoid
Discord: / discord (Let me know if the discord link does not work)
Instagram: thyzoyd?hl=de
Twitter: thyzoid1?lang=de
Reddit: / feuerfr0sch1
This video was sponsored by Brillinat.
00:00 Intro
00:28 Preparing WP
02:43 Purifying WP
04:51 WP Burning
05:14 Making WP Sticks
06:22 Brilliant
07:21 Phosphorus Solution?
07:53 WP Glowing
08:30 Ozone
09:14 Forensic Chemistry
10:21 Magnesium Phosphide and Phosphine
10:46 Outro

[@THYZOID]

Become a Patron, get access to exclusive videos (like making phenylacetic acid, potassium cyanide, methylamine and additional videos) and additionally get your name shown at the end of videos: www.patreon.com/thyzoid

[@neverlistentome]

Looked up phossy jaw pictures.... 😮🤢

[@spanqueluv9er]

@THYZOID How does one “make phosphorus terrifying”, we wonders? It already is you dumbfuq. Jesus.🤡🤡💩💩🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@JuanDeTwig]

@@neverlistentomeit’s not that bad

[@aethrya]

It was an accident, Agent. Didn't mean to click on it and watch the whole thing

[@holidayfish]

Hey, I was looking for a video tutorial on white sauce

[@Chemiolis]

Next video making white phosphorus munitions?

[@fickgooglefickthem6884]

And: how to setup an out of control Dictatorship that must be pacified with red phosphorous brother.

[@redmadness265]

😳

[@garycard1456]

"IsraelEntersTheChat"

[@arkanaleloup5025]

​@@garycard1456 don t slide bro 🇮🇱😇🇦🇪

[@oligultonn]

Geneva convention? Never heard of it, must be a convention for losers.

[@RhoGamingYT]

White Phosphorus is what I would say as super dangerous yet so fun to play with(With appropriate PPE of course)

[@tonyflamingo3285]

There was one of these lifehack channels that made it from a match striker. And playd with it barehaded. I wanted to make it when I was like 12 but I forgot.

[@RhoGamingYT]

Update: I now really want to make Phosphorus Pentachloride so I might be needing some white phosphorus

[@thegreenpickel]

Sodium is fun and safer.

[@kieranodea771]

Those sticks of White P are BEAUTIFUL ! We'll don'e i've got a good amount of dirty white phos from a similar process and after watching this I think today is the day to clean it !

[@THYZOID]

Thanks and stay safe.

[@antoniojosetroyanosaez1761]

As a chemist, I find this video so cool and terrifying at the same time. Good job!

[@lofasz_joska]

I was taught basic chemistry in primary school, and I find the disclaimer slightly offensive... :D That being said, nitrogen triiodide is a hell of a lot more fun.

[@Blakearmin]

Waking up early does have its benefits! Got to see a brand new video! Those future projects look awesome! I can't wait.

[@michaellines2063]

You can put the sticks into copper sulfate solution to deposit a layer of copper. This will preserve the P4 inside a metal shell.

[@THYZOID]

copper sulfate is used to destroy white pheophorus. short contact will form a layer of C sulfide though which may protect the WP

[@bedlaskybedla6361]

If you want to make self-ignating solution, use toluene or benzene instead of hexane. P4 is much more soluble in benzene/toluene. When solvent evaporates, white phosphorus self-ignate in the air. Interesting fact about reaction of phosphides with water is, that gas which is released from this reaction mixture doesn't ignate because of phosphane, but because of diphosphane and other higher phosphanes, which form in the side reactions. Pure phosphane isn't pyrophoric, but these higher phosphanes are pyrophoric. I really like that ancient forensic test for P4! Never saw that before.

[@mcsaatana1614]

This is one of the very few youtube videos that made my hands sweat like crazy and made me to sit un still and hugging my knees during the video.. i am damn glad you made it. there were so many dangerous steps when everything could have gone totally wrong. But I am glad you made this video and made alive through it :D.. I really hope this time is enough for making that stuff. And I'll hope ppl would get that there is no point to make that stuff by their own without knowing the risks. Great video and big thumbs up! 🤘🤘🤘

[@foc2241]

Had white P dissolved in CS2 and when the CS2 evaporated that stuff caught fire, be very careful to not let it dry (and touch it then)

[@human_shaped]

This is indeed pretty terrifying.

[@mythics791]

Great video. Always look forward to watching

[@BarryWilliams0]

Brilliant video - thanks 😊 I'd love to see the preparation of phosphine from white P and NaOH solution. I remember an old chemistry textbook showing a diagram where the phosphine is led through a glass tube into a trough of water. When the gas bubbles through the water into the air,, it spontaneously ignites to give circular smoke rings.

[@robertlittlejohn8666]

I did this in my high school chem lab, about 1964. Do it in a room with calm air, and the smoke rings will rise for a considerable height unbroken.

[@robertlittlejohn8666]

You have to heat the NaOH solution to make the reaction go. Before you do that, flush the system with natural gas to eliminate the oxygen. I suppose nitrogen would work but I used natural gas (methane).

[@user255]

Nice! And interesting videos coming! Especially cubane in "megascale", trifluoronitrosomethane and uranium chemistry! Some pigments are also interesting. How did you get uranium? There are some legal troubles to get it in Finland. I have only uranium glass, which is bit a pain to refine.

[@THYZOID]

I am legally allowed to own a certain amount of depleted uranyl acetate and nitrate and someone just happened to give a small amount of these to me. The test tube methods of making WP really are horrible Tried one of them and it ended up breaking the test tube. Fortunately I always keep a healthy safety distance while doing such tests.

[@EddieTheH]

Somewhere near where I live there's about a 150kg chunk of depleted uranium that's been missing since 1988. It's assumed to be buried with some other missing 747 wreckage.

[@xerolad4086]

Wow. Love the technique using syringes. It leads to a very elegant looking product.

[@idonthaveaname4283]

i appreciate the work done on the watermark to make it less visible. having one is good for ownership reasons but can often be as annoying as sidebar ads and therefore bad for the user

[@christopherleubner6633]

I made this a while back and sealed into little wheaton ampuoles. Once one of the ampuoles rolled off the bench and broke. The phosphorus inside was molten and some splattered on me. It burns so hot it really didnt hurt, but the healing from the burn was slow. It forms a false scab that comes off in a few days with a slow healing ulcur underneath. Be careful 😲

[@WaffleStaffel]

I believe a copper sulfate solution is used on phosphorous burns in the hospital.

[@jeremylange3293]

Great video, I am curious generally speaking, what they are not allowed to lie about

[@PizzaChess69]

2:50 I love how the label is written in my native language 3:32 The red light looks SUPA epic

[@MaxfieldMED]

Cubane megascale!? That sounds exciting. Will be doing lots of research on the cage dione photolysis step so I’ll share anything interesting if I find!

[@THYZOID]

I´ve been enjoying your cubane videos so far even if i didn´t leave any comment yet. I´d appreciate if you share any new insight you gain. My final goal is cubane monocarboxylic acid though so my route will be a little different in the end

[@MaxfieldMED]

@@THYZOID Happy to hear!! Happy to share as well.

[@user-to2gh7sg3l]

Very well done short on the somewhat scary chemical, very informative. Just curious is your accent Austrian? Swiss?

[@THYZOID]

german

[@aaabbb-gu5pz]

The big question: in this inertial atmosphere, What is the black powder left in the flask with the heated red phosphorous? It is not black phosphorous, because the last is obtained soon at too high pressure only and is unstable.

[@THYZOID]

my RP contains violet phosphorus as you can see in the violet P video. as it is less reactive i assume the leftovers are violet P

[@christopherleubner6633]

If you want black phosphorus put some red phosphorus in a vial with a tiny amount of mercury inside. Evacuate the vial. Heat the vial until the phosphorus converts to WP and vapor. Then heat one end strongly. It will form black crystals that look like iodine on the heated end. That is your black phosphorus. 🤓

[@computersales]

Late night binge watching I now still don't know how to make white phosphorus but as an added bonus probably on another watch list. 😅

[@6248fab]

6:04 you made the forbidden birthday candles

[@jonhevaragg7419]

2:18 you didn’t scare me you dared me

[@mike.hawk_]

I’d like to think that anytime the vapors went towards him he just squinted his eyes and held his breath.

[@petermaddin5611]

Thanks for the entertaining video. Like elemental bromine, far too dangerous to experiment with. So happy for you to do so on one's behalf.

[@flaplaya]

Bone Valley Florida: Grew up 20 miles from largest phosphorus mines in continental US. The water glows certain times of year.. Yes like the ocean water glows. Radium

[@koukouzee2923]

The distillation part was scary

[@maximilianbachler3541]

How about a synthesis of PCl3 as an DIY chlorinating agent? because thionyl chloride is rather hard to get and phosgene too toxic imo

[@paulsotheron710]

Scary stuff. What would it be used for?

[@yaykruser]

Which acid was used to turn the phosphorus into Phosphine when you decontaminated it with sodiumhypochlorite?

[@cancel1913]

Great video and style!

[@theEVILone0130]

I'm curious what it's used for?

[@ReaIHuman]

I'll never need this information, but that isn't going to stop me from watching.

[@mediamonk100]

Can you show us what uranium does when ignited?

[@russellwirta6753]

#idea Perhaps make a video demonstrating as many various conditions in which white phosphorus can self ignite. For the purpose of educating and warning people of the dangers of handling such things without training and education. Perhaps include a couple other dangerous reactive chemicals.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

Great video!! Do you think you could try making wp from the reduction of a phosphorus salt with aluminum, or magnesium, carbon and silicon dioxide Flux? Red phosphorus is pretty hard to get in many parts of the world.

[@THYZOID]

maybe someday

[@craigpater6278]

@@THYZOID I'm a big fan of your chemistry videos on KZbin and have been ever since I saw your first chemistry videos online and your chemistry videos are an excellent way for me to learn about potentially dangerous experiments online by watching professional chemists like you conducting those experiments safely on KZbin which gives me the unique opportunity to learn about those dangerous experiments safely because I'm not attempting those experiments myself but still get to see them on KZbin

[@ShaLun42]

​@@THYZOID You can use bones. You put bones in a campfire for all organic matter to burn out, and what's left is basically calcium hydroxyapatite. Then you crush them, mix with crushed charcoal and sand. Then you need to heat it to really high temperatures without access of air and you will have phosphorus vapors. For example you can use ceramic pot with lid for heating, and copper tube inserted into jar filled with water.

[@TheHuntermj]

Does the Phosphorus Pentoxide smoke cause the same health effects as White Phosphorus or is it just the pure element? I ask because phosphorus is used as a smoke/incendiary munitions and the only warnings for the smoke are that is can irritate the soft tissue membranes, eyes, nose throat etc.

[@THYZOID]

the smoke is made from P2O5 not phosphorus itself

[@jethrotull2142]

Anything with white phosphorus is always fun to watch I recall one which KZbin speedily got rid of the channel this video was about making white phosphorus too and they attempted it different ways BTW don't you require Carbon Dioxide for pumping in the apparatus while making White Phosphorus? Also you missed out on the classic reaction of white phosphorus with potassium chlorate and the halogens here

[@THYZOID]

Can´t do the chlorate one in germany. also carbon dioxide would react with phosphorus

[@jethrotull2142]

@@THYZOID SURE doesn't make sense to me Chlorates are definitely less dangerous than white phosphorus at any rate

[@THYZOID]

@@jethrotull2142 that is not the issue here. I make >40% NaClO3, mix it with WP and blow that shit up while also being dumb enough to show it on yt -----> I´ll get fucked by law enforcement

[@jethrotull2142]

@@THYZOID Had no idea it was so hard there I'm just across the western border from you and it's a whole new number here

[@THYZOID]

@@jethrotull2142 chemistry related laws here are absolute nonsense

[@sammyg4765]

😳 scary stuff, couldn't look away

[@theexchipmunk]

6:00 The forbidden hot glue

[@adboshop]

Heating red phosphorus with open fire - I like that.

[@yaykruser]

What kind of protection did you use? Gas mask or oxygen tank? Change clothes after or did you have a suit on?

[@Derekzparty]

Phosphoric acid ... stuff you don't want to inhale. "Looks at ingredients in can of coke" Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, PHOSPHORIC ACID! "Throws can of coke into the bathroom and locks the door!"

[@psirvent8]

Phosphoric acid is what makes coke so effective at removing rust as well as one of the reasons I don't drink coke.

[@LordJemse]

Got that Brilliant sponsorship, you're moving up!

[@DJslopp10]

9:20 nice bong bro

[@tracybowling1156]

Excellent video! I looked up the pics on Google. It looks painful.

[@arkanaleloup5025]

Hawful

[@AdrianRund]

I can’t help but notice this is the same process for distillates like thc concentrate, makes ya worry how much phosphorus gets through in the process.

[@hantrio4327]

What?

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

2 sticks of white phosphorus around a big firecracker. Would love to see that would happen.

[@SodiumInteresting]

am I right distilling in air would convert it back to red again? I thought you might have disolved some of the white P in CS2

[@THYZOID]

no. it converts back to RP when exposed to light or when heated with KI in an autoclave

[@adelinyoungmark1929]

"future videos: uranium chemistry" cant wait for some radiochem

[@MU-oi1su]

The stuff looks like eyeboogers when it crusts over in open air. I saw a friend almost lose a hand disturbing some once 😂

[@laqueefasteinberg4981]

is phosphorous sticky to hande?

[@DuvalDashCams]

So basically you cook red phosphorus in a vacuum until the vapors and liquid phosphorus is collected.. crazy how "simple" this is.. How is the glassware cleaned safely after this reaction?

[@THYZOID]

no. i heated white phosphorus under an inert atmosphere. the vacuum was only used to displace the air with argon more efficiently. i talked about the cleanup. i use highly concentrated chlorine water over a couple of weeks. bromine water also works.

[@subbaraoch9966]

​@@THYZOIDgood

[@InuPf]

Does it cause jaw necrosis (osteonecrosis) because it causes calcium sequestration ? That’s the ONLY thing that came into mind, seeing how white phosp reacts with calcium and generates calcium phosphate.

[@pleaseibegyoudontspam5598]

Turns out it’s really tasty, burns a little on the way down, but not too much.

[@Thugshaker_thequaker]

So we can make the ozone better with white phosphorus?

[@chanheosican6636]

Out of curiosity only I wonder what would happen if you tried adding pure Magnesium Phosphide to the thermite and set it on fire. One of my friends said the gas Phosphine would displace the thermite spraying everything with hot thermite. I would never want to try this since Thermite and Phosphide salts (Phosphine gas) seem very dangerous and unpredictable. Also when Phosphine burns in air it makes Phosphoric acid so the reaction may be weird but also interesting.

[@THYZOID]

if you put phosphide into thermite and light it up you won´t get any phosphine. you would need water for that. if you put Mg phosphide into thermite the massive heat and the oxygen that later comes into contact with it would lead to P2O5 formation

[@chanheosican6636]

@@THYZOID Yeah u would need both a controlled thermite and water or acid added to the Magnesium Phosphide or Calcium phosphide.

[@chanheosican6636]

@@THYZOID Prob be extremely tricky to pull off.

[@Auroral_Anomaly]

Remember Nile made a cool video on white phosphorus as well.

[@MrMadartist]

In my late teens I smoked and or snorted Red Phosphorus dope mid 90s , I also saw people slamming it. What is difference between pure and drug? I'm not asking for recipes 😂. Just always wondered 🥃

[@mobspeak]

2:09 Holy crap, why are you making this? 😂

[@LukasSMF]

You got a natural gas line into your home? Or is there another way to safely power it in my own home? (Cant afford a heating mantle sadly)

[@THYZOID]

i used a gas cylinder

[@mrfunkybassist]

I cant even change the oil on my car without getting filthy so there’s no way i’d try this!

[@azizobeid7143]

Nice work bro

[@Flyhi_Photography]

I am terrified just watching this.

[@AliceInTanks]

Underrated as hell

[@BrandonSiff-lb7ur]

Is that the same stuff you can throw onto water and it makes an explosion

[@THYZOID]

no. you even store phosphorus under a lwayer of water. you are thinking about sodium

[@anthonyzouras8017]

i like to maje my White P by taking triple super phosphate, food grade diatomaceous earth (ie 100% pure powdered Sio2) and carbon. i only make what i need so i'll make a disposable metal retort. majority of which have been 30lb freon tanks, remove the valve, drill a 18mm-24mm hole and weld on a meter length of pipe thats bent via 45 degree angles leading into a 55 gallon aquarium i have. ive gone as far as doubling the TSP and SiO2 so after the carbons spent i can make Phosphoric acid TSP & SiO2 phosphorus pentoxide and calcium salts.. my next creative act is tp use a second glass jug/container ect and reduce the amount of water so ill have white p in the 55gal wit a 10-30% phosphoric acid to be concentrated as needed and PPA 2 birds one stone? shooot were aiming for 3 at a time ;)

[@THYZOID]

what´s the yield in grams?

[@chrism4008]

Can you make some night vision with that?

[@chasingcapsaicin]

What wavelength of light is the glow of white phosphorous in air?

[@THYZOID]

I do not know but it is greenish. If you find it out let me know

[@garrysekelli6776]

Does anyone remember the Sherlock Holmes story "the hounds of the Baskervilles"? Where there were hellhounds that glowed but it turned out it was just regular dogs painted in white phosphorus. I'm guessing that this was mostly a fictional literary work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

[@lucasconner621]

your channel scares me so much that i just read osha codes for an hour to make sure i dont do anything i shouldn't

[@lucasconner621]

this is a compliment

[@THYZOID]

lol i usually don´t read more than neccessary unless its something really frightening like working with OsO4

[@THYZOID]

@@lucasconner621 but you can stay tuned for one of my next uploads because that liquid i made was truly insane

[@torydavis10]

Violet phosphorus next? Also, would be fun to see the conversion back to red.

[@synikal0]

"Never seen on KZbin before": Explosions&Fire - "Am I a joke to you?"

[@hantrio4327]

He talks about clean white phosphorus and also says likely

[@idol_stomper]

In the Mk 45 magazine we called those rounds 'Willy Pete'

[@abidhasanonib9032]

Can you try Biogas->Methane->Methanol->Formaldehyde ?

[@MichaelLapore-lk9jz]

Question? Can I store W.P in a vacuum? Will it be stable at 30hg?

[@THYZOID]

i do not see a reason why it should not be storable under vacuum

[@MichaelLapore-lk9jz]

@THYZOID well, I mean if it can be stored at 29.92 to 30 hg dry, not that I would do that, I guess I should have phrased the question differently! Can W.P ignite in 30hg vacuum, without H2O, if it reaches or goes above the ambient room temperature during summer? (67°- 95°F) I appreciate you're time schooling me on this element, as I have only bare bones basic experience with it,and I was always intimidated by it, I never had to work with it nor until now experimented with it! Take care!

[@MesoHunterYT]

great video! subbed!

[@djdrack4681]

Are you thinking of making your own Nightvision tubes?

[@THYZOID]

You can´t really use white phosphorus for that. It may work for a short amount of time though

[@bobsagely812]

Does white phosphorus work for making methyl iodide?

[@THYZOID]

i don´t see why it wouldn´t work. Would i recommend it? Certainly not.

[@CHOPERUS23]

That must have been a lot of matches to get that red phos

[@hantrio4327]

He bought the red phosphorus

[@frankieatjumbleend4867]

"put some Wille Peat in that ground floor"

[@skeletonbones6995]

You are insane. I saw the chromium come out and began shivering

[@stvargas69]

Willie Pete! Heck go full tilt and make Napalm. It will be easier than WP

[@igordzuro4353]

Me: *sees this video's title* Also me: *laughs in Cpt. Walker*

[@crohkorthreetoes3821]

I had no idea that white phosphorus was horrifically toxic. Thought it was just flammable.

[@PoorMansChemist]

I really need to try this one day.

[@THYZOID]

Stay safe. The needle of the syringe caught on fire multiple times while transferring it. A waste container also decided to light on fire but I assumed that this might happen and thus put it into a secondary steel container in a safe place.

[@PoorMansChemist]

@@THYZOID Thanks for the tips!! I figured it would have to be done somewhere outside where if the worst happens you can step back and let it burn itself out. It's the toxicity of white P that makes me nervous. A mistake may come with some pretty serious consequences.

[@THYZOID]

yeah nasty stuff

[@kieranodea771]

for me working with it while its solid is the safest. I broke it into pieces while solid then transferred them to a test tube full of water. Melted it into a nice lump then to remove it easily just very lightly heat the glass that's in contact with the White P and it should slide free like butter. Worst case completely fill the test tube with water, quickly tip it upside down into a beaker full of water. If your fast enough air won't have time to get in. Then Just hold then just heat the bottom of the test tube and all the phosphorus will slid right out into the beaker, never having a chance to contact air.

[@bigjay875]

Ya I'll pass on messing with White phaus, that's some nasty stuff

[@Michael-rg7mx]

The rules of war said that it was for making smoke only. So they gave a bunch of 19 year olds grenades. Now, don't use it on the enemy!

[@Turd420]

Blue gold pans are my fav

[@ismaelcoronajr]

I'm at 3:30 and I'm terrified. It's nuts how crazy dangerous it is. Chromium is enough to make me piss my pants. Eeek dude your a pro.

[@peterolsen9131]

have to be crazy to do this!

[@Grateful.For.Everything]

Very cool! So it’s a cold flame?

[@THYZOID]

we have boiling water so it is at least 100°C warm but i don´t think that it would ignite paper

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

I know a Vietnam vet who was telling me about how nasty this stuff is. If it gets on you, all you can do is dig it out of your skin to stop it burning you alive. This stuff is NOT a joke!

[@demoncore239]

This is terrifying

[@BackMacSci]

Excellent!

[@michaelvanwynsberg3737]

Every young Chemist's dad:: "What's this stuff on the paver bricks?"

[@THYZOID]

so true

[@Mr_Glenn]

I'd like to see a piece of white phosphorus self ignite at room temperature.

[@THYZOID]

i can film one eventually. in winter it just would not ignite on its own though

[@Mr_Glenn]

​@@THYZOID that sounds awesome!

[@sirskaven7624]

Man, I can't wait for the 3,4 methylenedioxy methamphetamine video ... For educational purposes of course