The photos on the Research homepage are from an article by Professor Richard Keiter and Chaminda P. Gamage of our Department recently published in the Journal of Chemical Education (J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 908), entitled "Combustion of White Phosphorus"; the paper describes a demonstration.

Below, both the front cover of the J. Chem. Educ. issue in which the article was published and the paper's abstract are reproduced.

Abstract The reaction of white phosphorus with pure oxygen is conveniently and safely demonstrated by carrying out the reaction in a retort that has its open end submerged in water. After filling the retort with oxygen gas, a small amount of white phosphorus is introduced and heated with a hot-plate until it ignites. The spectacular reaction leads to consumption and expulsion of oxygen gas, creation of a partial vacuum in the retort, and back suction of water that extinguishes the combustion.