Consider the following statements 1. Red phosphorus is poisonous whereas white phosphorus is non-poisonous. 2. Red phosphorus has low ignition temperature as compared to white phosphorus. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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Q: 78 (CDS-I/2005)
Consider the following statements
1. Red phosphorus is poisonous whereas white phosphorus is non-poisonous.
2. Red phosphorus has low ignition temperature as compared to white phosphorus.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

question_subject: 

Science

question_exam: 

CDS-I

stats: 

0,31,97,18,41,38,31

keywords: 

{'red phosphorus': [0, 0, 0, 3], 'white phosphorus': [0, 0, 0, 1]}

The correct answer is option 4: Neither 1 nor 2.

Let`s analyze each statement one by one.

Statement 1: Red phosphorus is poisonous whereas white phosphorus is non-poisonous.

This statement is incorrect. Both red and white phosphorus are poisonous substances. White phosphorus is particularly dangerous as it can cause severe burns and is highly toxic if ingested, breathed in, or absorbed through the skin. Red phosphorus is less reactive and less toxic than white phosphorus, but it still poses health risks if handled improperly.

Statement 2: Red phosphorus has a low ignition temperature as compared to white phosphorus.

This statement is also incorrect. Red phosphorus has a significantly higher ignition temperature compared to white phosphorus. White phosphorus can ignite spontaneously in air at temperatures as low as 30°C (86°F). On the other hand, red phosphorus is much more stable and does not spontaneously ignite at normal temperatures.

To summarize, both statements in the question are incorrect. Neither red phosphorus is non-poisonous nor does it have a lower ignition temperature compared to white phosphorus.