[tenchan]

Hi ^^

Just wondering, does the reaction between Red P and Chlorine to form PCl3 require sunlight?  I read that white P would readily react while Red P would react slower. I'm asking because a synthesis I carried out indicated the need for sunlight, but the other mechanisms involved did not seem to require it. So I was wondering if the sunlight was for hastening the rxn between Red P and Cl2.  Thanks for any ideas ^^

[oldddog]

I would guess that the sunlight (uv) gives the energy required for the homolytic dissociation of chlorine.