page_title: Allotropes of phosphorus
section_title: Diphosphorus
hierarchical_section_title: Allotropes of phosphorus / Diphosphorus
context_page_description: Elemental phosphorus can exist in several allotropes, the most common of which are white and red solids. Solid violet and black allotropes are also known. Gaseous phosphorus exists as diphosphorus and atomic phosphorus.
context_section_description: The diphosphorus allotrope (P₂) can normally be obtained only under extreme conditions (for example, from P₄ at 1100 kelvin). In 2006,  the diatomic molecule was generated in homogenous solution under normal conditions with the use of transition metal complexes (for example, tungsten and niobium).
  Diphosphorus is the gaseous form of phosphorus, and the thermodynamically stable form between 1200 °C and 2000 °C.  The dissociation of tetraphosphorus (P
  ₄) begins at lower temperature: the percentage of P
  ₂ at 800 °C is ≈ 1%. At temperatures above about 2000 °C, the diphosphorus molecule begins to dissociate into atomic phosphorus.
caption: Diphosphorus molecule
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