Question

Atoms in a $P_{4}$ molecule of white phosphorus are arranged regularly in the following way :

• A. at the corners of a cube
• B. at the corners of a octahedron
• C. at the corners of a tetrahedron
• D. at the centre and corners of a tetrahedron

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

at the corners of a tetrahedron

Answer 2

White phosphorus has the following structure

The structure shows that the four $P$ atoms in white phosphorus lie at the comers of a regular tetrahedron.