Answer 1

Presence of angular strain in any molecule can make it reactive. Such angular strain is found in the white phosphorous P₄ molecule where the angles are only 60° making it more reactive. Also, white phosphorous is made of discrete tetrahedral P₄ molecules while red phosphorus is consist of chains of P₄ tetrahedra linked together. Hence, on the basis of these facts, it can be concluded that red phosphorus is less reactive than white phosphorus.