White Phosphorus Safety: Storing in Paraffin vs Water

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Storing white phosphorus in paraffin within an airtight container poses significant risks, particularly due to the effects of humidity and ambient pressure. Exposure to extremely dry conditions can lead to the deterioration of paraffin, accelerating surface peeling when combined with dust particles. Maintaining a constant temperature is also crucial for the integrity of this storage method. While some suggest using paraffin as a temporary solution, a more reliable design, such as utilizing a fume hood, is recommended. Overall, the consensus is that this storage approach is not advisable without further precautions.
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What will happen if white phosphorus is stored under paraffin in an airtight container and not in water?
 
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Other factors play an important role in how well this system works: Ambient pressure and most importantly humidity. Paraffin starts misbehaving a couple of hours after being exposed to an extremely dry atmosphere and its surface starts to deteriorate. Small dust particle of the surface between the paraffin and the container will accelerate peeling off the surface, and finally, the temperature under which this system is kept need to be constant.
If I were to offer an opinion, this is a very bad idea, maybe use it as a "very" short temporary solution, but definitely need a better design (and a fume hood).
 
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Really? Paraffin behavior depends on the humidity? That's the first I hear about it.
 
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Borek said:
Really? Paraffin behavior depends on the humidity? That's the first I hear about it.

uh huh, Doing some searching, I couldn't find any relevant info

copper-head said:
Other factors play an important role in how well this system works: Ambient pressure and most importantly humidity. Paraffin starts misbehaving a couple of hours after being exposed to an extremely dry atmosphere and its surface starts to deteriorate.

do you have some reliable reference for that please ? :smile:

Dave
 
copper-head said:
Other factors play an important role in how well this system works: Ambient pressure and most importantly humidity. Paraffin starts misbehaving a couple of hours after being exposed to an extremely dry atmosphere and its surface starts to deteriorate. Small dust particle of the surface between the paraffin and the container will accelerate peeling off the surface, and finally, the temperature under which this system is kept need to be constant.
If I were to offer an opinion, this is a very bad idea, maybe use it as a "very" short temporary solution, but definitely need a better design (and a fume hood).
Thanks...
 
Borek said:
Really? Paraffin behavior depends on the humidity? That's the first I hear about it.
Tried and true. Wrap it around a beaker and place it in a vacuum over for an hour = disaster. On the other hand, do the same next to a steam source and slippage and peeling starts to occur.
 
Interesting. But I am not convinced vacuum and steam are comparable - what about comparing normal, but dry air, with a wet air?

Plus, I thought OP meant liquid paraffin.
 
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